West
'Fat Leonard' faces sentencing in Navy bribery scandal
Leonard Glenn Francis, aka “Fat Leonard,” will be sentenced next week after his conviction, dramatic escape from custody and recapture in one of the biggest bribery and corruption scandals in U.S. military history.
Francis is due in U.S. District Court in San Diego on Tuesday, 11 years after his initial arrest and two years after he cut off his ankle monitor and fled to Venezuela. He returned to U.S. custody in December after his apprehension by Venezuelan authorities and a prisoner swap between the two countries.
Under a plea agreement, the 6’3″, 350-pound Malaysian former defense contractor, who bribed hundreds of Navy officers for classified information for more than 20 years, could see less than a year of jail time, court documents show.
The agreement comes after “Fat Leonard” admitted to defrauding the U.S. government and American taxpayers out of at least $35 million dollars until he was caught in a sting operation in 2013. Following his arrest, nearly 1,000 Navy officers came under scrutiny, including 91 admirals.
‘FAT LEONARD’ CAPTURED; NAVY CORRUPTION SCANDAL MASTERMIND NABBED IN VENEZUELA AFTER WEEKS ON THE RUN
Leonard Glenn Francis, aka “Fat Leonard,” pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in one of the largest corruption scandals in U.S. military history. (U.S. Marshal Service)
Federal prosecutors brought criminal charges against 34 defendants, 33 of whom were convicted after Francis provided information to authorities while in U.S. custody. Francis could be sentenced to a maximum of 22 years in prison for his crimes, but the Department of Justice has sought a much lighter sentence in light of his cooperation, court documents show.
“Perhaps a harsher sentence would be justified given Francis’s egregious and prolonged criminal conduct, as well as his violation of the Court’s trust with respect to his release on medical furlough. But the substantial assistance provided by Francis cannot be ignored, and the degree and significance of his cooperation cannot be overstated regardless of what one thinks of the individual or his underlying criminal conduct,” U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath wrote.
Francis was arrested in a San Diego hotel nearly a decade ago as part of a federal sting operation. Investigators say he bilked the U.S. military out of more than $35 million by buying off dozens of top-ranking Navy officers with booze, sex, lavish parties and other gifts.
‘FAT LEONARD’ CUTS ANKLE MONITOR WEEKS BEFORE SENTENCING IN $35 MILLION US NAVY CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Another undated photo of Leonard Glenn Francis. (Credit: courtesy Glenn Defense Marine Asia)
The scandal led to the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defense contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges. Investigators say that Francis, who owned and operated his family’s ship-servicing business, abused his position as a key contact for U.S. Navy shops at ports across Asia, wooing naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.
He pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in 2015 and was placed under house arrest in San Diego with a GPS monitor and security guards.
But while awaiting sentencing, Francis slipped out of his ankle monitor and disappeared.
US SWAPS MADURO ALLY WITH VENEZUELA FOR 10 AMERICANS, INCLUDING ‘FAT LEONARD’
Undated photo of Leonard Glenn Francis, owner of the Singapore-based maritime services firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia. (Credit: NCIS-DCIS case files)
He failed to respond to messages and knocks at his door from federal officers who noticed that his monitor had gone offline. His home was found empty after police conducted a welfare check that afternoon.
“He was planning this out, that’s for sure,” U.S. Marshal Omar Castillo told the San Diego Union-Tribune at the time, adding that neighbors said they had seen a U-Haul being loaded up in the weeks prior to his escape.
The U.S. Marshals had offered a $40,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
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Francis was apprehended by Venezuelan authorities, who had been advised by Interpol that he was a wanted man. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.
The Biden administration secured Francis’ extradition and the release of 10 other detainees by Venezuela in exchange for Alex Saab, a Columbian-born businessman and close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who had been charged in the U.S. in a money laundering case, the Associated Press reported.
Fox News Digital’s Liz Friden, Jennifer Griffin, Brie Stimson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
About a month after reports first emerged that he was a target for Clemson in the transfer portal, San Francisco forward David Fuchs has committed to the Tigers. He will join the program, making a big step up in terms of the level of competition.
He figures to be a quality piece for coach Brad Brownell as Clemson looks to bounce back from a season that ended with a first-round NCAA Tournament exit. The Tigers went 24-11 overall and finished fourth in the ACC, but lost to Iowa in an opening-round game in the Big Dance.
Fuchs has the tools to be a force in the frontcourt. He checks in at 6-foot-9, 245 pounds.
Fuchs spent his first two seasons in college playing for Rhode Island. He was basically a full-time starter as a freshman in 2023-24, but he became a contributor off the bench the following year. That, in part, prompted his transfer.
At that point, Fuchs headed to San Francisco. He wasn’t quite a full-time starter, making 19 starts in 29 total appearances this year. But he had a significant impact. He averaged 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. In addition, he dished out 1.4 assists per contest and occasionally chipped in with the odd block or steal.
As he looks to round out his game with the Tigers, David Fuchs will likely look to continue improving his perimeter shooting. He has seen a year-over-year improvement in his shooting percentage from downtown in each of the last two years.
He finished the 2025-26 season for the Dons, hoisting a career-high 33 attempts. He connected on 10 of them, helping stretch the floor with a 30.3% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
David Fuchs was really playing his best basketball toward season’s end, too. He averaged 17.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per game in two West Coast Conference tournament games, logging a double-double in each game.
He finished the year with nine double-doubles in total. And he had some monster outings individually.
He hit the 20-point scoring mark six times, including a 30-point outburst in a game against Pacific. He also turned in a 21-point, 13-rebound performance in a game against San Diego.
All in all, Clemson should be getting a pretty good piece to build around with David Fuchs. He has three years of experience under his belt heading into this venture with the Tigers.
Following the 2026 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos announced jersey numbers for their draft class. More numbers are still to be announced, and those selections could arrive ahead of organized team activities (OTAs) in June.
Players won’t be allowed to choose from six numbers — three numbers are officially retired, and three others are rarely (if ever) given to a new player.
The Broncos retired No. 7 for legendary quarterback John Elway, and No. 44 was retired for Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little. Denver also retired No. 18 for Frank Tripucka, the first QB in franchise history, but he gave Peyton Manning permission to wear the number from 2012-2015.
Three numbers are also held back by the team’s equipment staff — Champ Bailey’s No. 24, Von Miller’s No. 58 and the late Demarius Thomas’ No. 88. Bailey gave Adam Jones his blessing to wear No. 24 in 2018, but it hasn’t been worn by any other player besides Jones since Bailey’s retirement.
Former tight end Nick Vannett wore No. 88 in 2020, but no other players have worn that number in Denver following Thomas’ death in 2021. The Broncos also have not given out No. 58 since Miller was traded in 2021. Miller wore that number in Denver from 2011-’21.
Clearly, these six numbers have special meaning in Broncos Country.
7: Officially retired (John Elway)
18: Officially retired (Frank Tripucka, nod to Peyton Manning)
24: Not made available (Champ Bailey)
44: Officially retired (Floyd Little)
58: Not made available (Von Miller)
88: Not made available (Demaryius Thomas)
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Seattle, WA
Gunfire outside Capitol Hill nightclub leaves 3 men shot, Seattle Police searching for suspects – MyNorthwest.com
Three men were shot outside the Cultura nightclub early Monday morning in Capitol Hill, with one victim in critical condition.
At approximately 1:10 a.m., the Seattle Police Department (SPD) responded to reports of a shooting in the 900 block of E. Pike Street, SPD announced.
As officers arrived, they found three men suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers administered medical aid until the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) arrived.
SFD later transported all three victims to Harborview Medical Center, with two in serious condition and the other in critical condition.
Altercation with security leads to Capitol Hill nightclub shooting
The shooting followed an altercation involving three men and the nightclub security. The men were reportedly leaving the scene when at least one suspect pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots towards the club, which struck the three victims.
SPD noted that investigators are searching for two to three suspects who are believed to have a connection to the shooting, though no suspect descriptions have been released, according to KING 5.
The SPD Gun Violence Reduction Unit is currently investigating the events preceding the shooting.
Traffic was temporarily blocked by emergency vehicles on E. Pike Street, between Broadway and 10th Avenue, as Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were on the scene. The roadway was eventually opened up for traffic.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
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