Local navy officer took bribes from Malaysian

Lieutenant Commander Gentry Debord, a San Diegan, pleaded guilty in federal court today (October 13) to accepting cash, stays at luxury hotels, and prostitutes from foreign defense contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia. A total of 16 individuals have now been charged in this long-running bribery scandal.

According to his plea agreement, Debord over six years provided Glenn with proprietary U.S. Navy information. The company provided various services to ships. The eleven Navy personnel who have thus far admitted taking bribes would give information on when a Navy ship would be in a certain area. This information would bolster Glenn's business.

Debord admitted he asked the company to inflate invoices to cover the services he was getting. Debord and Glenn executives communicated in code. When Debord wanted to be sure he would get a prostitute, he wired to inquire about a "bodyguard" who would join him in a rendezvous.