Retired U.S. Navy Captain Michael Brooks, 57, of Fairfax Station, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bribery in a sprawling corruption scheme that gutted trust in the Pacific Fleet’s contracting chain. The fall of Brooks—the former U.S. Naval Attaché in Manila—marks the latest conviction in the ongoing federal crackdown on Leonard Francis’ Singapore-based defense contracting empire, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA).
Brooks admitted in court filings that from June 2006 to July 2008, he accepted lavish travel, luxury hotel stays, and the services of prostitutes in exchange for exploiting his position at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. In return, he granted GDMA diplomatic clearances for its vessels, allowing them to move under the U.S. Embassy’s protected status. He also permitted Francis to ghostwrite official U.S. Navy correspondence, which Brooks then submitted as his own—effectively turning American military channels into a front for foreign contractors.
Even more damaging, Brooks handed over sensitive internal Navy data, including ship movement schedules and billing details from a GDMA competitor. These breaches not only compromised operational security but directly fueled overbilling schemes that bled millions from U.S. defense coffers. His cooperation now feeds a larger investigation that has already ensnared 16 individuals tied to GDMA’s criminal network.
To date, 11 of those charged are current or former Navy personnel—including Admiral Robert Gilbeau, Lt. Commander Gentry Debord, Commander Bobby Pitts, Captain Daniel Dusek, Commander Michael Misiewicz, Lt. Commander Todd Malaki, Commander Jose Luis Sanchez, former NCIS Supervisory Special Agent John Beliveau II, Petty Officer First Class Daniel Layug, and Paul Simpkins, a former DoD civilian. All but Pitts have pleaded guilty or been sentenced, with prison terms ranging from 27 months to 12 years.
Five GDMA executives were also indicted: Francis, Alex Wisidagama, Ed Aruffo, Neil Peterson, and Linda Raja. Wisidagama was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay $34.8 million in restitution. Beliveau received 144 months and must repay $20 million. Dusek got 46 months, $30,000 restitution, and a $70,000 fine. Misiewicz was hit with 78 months, $95,000 in restitution, and a $100,000 fine. Francis and Aruffo await sentencing; Peterson and Raja remain untried.
The investigation, led by NCIS, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), continues to unravel one of the most brazen military corruption rings in modern history. Brooks faces sentencing on February 17, 2017. Anyone with information on government contracting fraud is urged to contact the NCIS tip line at www.ncis.navy.mil or the DOD Hotline at (800) 424-9098.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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