Navy admiral guilty of lying about Fat Leonard relationship

United States Navy Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau pleaded guilty in federal court today (June 9) to felony charges that he lied to federal investigators about his lengthy relationship with Leonard Glenn Francis (aka "Fat Leonard"), the Singapore-based contractor at the center of a bribery and fraud scandal. Gilbeau is the biggest fish caught in the long-running investigation.

In a plea agreement, Gilbeau admitted to lying when he told criminal investigators that he had never received any gifts from Francis, head of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which does maintenance and other work on naval ships.

United States Navy personnel have already pleaded guilty to providing Francis with classified information about travel plans of American ships, among other logistics information important to Francis's company. Francis has pleaded guilty to supplying Navy personnel, including officers, with luxury travel, meals, parties, and prostitutes in return for the information.

According to the plea agreement, Gilbeau lied when he told investigators that when he had dinner with Francis he "always paid for half of the dinner." When Gilbeau became aware that Francis and others had been arrested, he destroyed documents and deleted computer files, according to court records.

Thus far, 14 people have been charged in the case.