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Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless, Bribery, Corruption, California 2017
A shocking bribery scheme has been uncovered in the U.S. Navy, involving high-ranking officers and a foreign defense contractor. Retired Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless and eight other officers have been charged with acting as a team of moles, trading military secrets for sex parties, extravagant dinners, and luxury travel.
According to a federal indictment unsealed last year, the Navy officers worked together to help Singapore-based defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, pull off a massive fraud. The scheme ultimately cost the Navy and U.S. taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
The indictment alleges that Francis spent tens of thousands of dollars on bribing the defendants, including foie gras terrine, duck leg confit, ox-tail soup, $2,000 boxes of cigars, and $2,000 bottles of rare cognac. The defendants allegedly reciprocated by helping Francis win and keep defense contracts, redirecting ships to ports controlled by Francis, sabotaging competing contractors, and recruiting new members for the conspiracy.
The defendants, including Captains David Newland, James Dolan, Donald Hornbeck, and David Lausman, Marine Corps Colonel Enrico DeGuzman, Commander Mario Herrera, Lt. Commander Stephen Shedd, and Chief Warrant Officer Robert Gorsuch, face various charges including bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and obstruction of justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark W. Pletcher and Patrick Hovakimian are handling the case. The indictment is a 78-page list of allegations, detailing the extent of the corruption and the actions of the defendants.
The case is a reminder of the importance of accountability and ethics in the military. The defendants were entrusted with the honor and responsibility of administering the operations of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet, and their actions have betrayed that trust.
The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be filed. The U.S. Navy has taken steps to address the corruption and ensure that similar schemes do not occur in the future.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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