Posted on 06/09/2016 5:58:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
This case is unusual as it is rare for an Admiral to even face criminal proceedings
Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Navy-Admiral-Guilty-Plea-Navy-Bribery-Scheme-382400401.html#ixzz4B8MhpHYZ Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook
A rear admiral in the U.S. Navy plead guilty to one felony charge in connection with a multi-million dollar bribery scheme that has led to the arrest or imprisonment of more than a dozen U.S. Navy officers and Pentagon employees.
Rear Admiral Robert J. Gilbeau appeared in court Thursday in the downtown San Diego federal courthouse.
Gilbeau entered a change of plea to one count of providing false statements to federal investigators and is out on a $75,000 bond. He will have to surrender his passport, dispose all of his firearms and will face travel restrictions. \ His defense attorney David Benowitz told The Associated Press, "Rear Admiral Gilbeau did in fact make a false statement during the course of an important investigation.
"In this unfortunate situation, he accepts responsibility for the decisions he made and for his conduct," Benowitz said.
Benowitz declined to comment further on what the lie involved. Gilbeau faces anywhere from probation to several months in jail, but Benowitz said he would "fight hard" to ensure his client — a decorated Naval officer — does not spend any time behind bars.
He becomes the highest-ranking Naval officer to enter a guilty plea in a wide-ranging investigation that NBC 7 has been following since September 2013.
A Malaysian contractor known as "Fat Leonard" Francis developed relationships with Navy higher-ups in order to gain access to warship itineraries. Francis ran Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, out of Singapore and used his influence to overbill the U.S. Navy by more than $20 million for ship husbanding services in various Pacific ports. Since Francis pleaded guilty to bribery charges in January 2015, federal officials have charged 13 people in the case. Allegations include accepting gifts ranging from cash, luxury travel, high-tech gadgets, dinners and prostitutes in exchange for emailing confidential ship movements or government investigation documents to Francis.
Nine have pleaded guilty, including Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edmond A. Aruffo, U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Dusek, U.S. Navy Captain (Select) Michael Misiewicz, Lieutenant Commander Todd Malaki, NCIS Special Agent John Beliveau, Commander Jose Luis Sanchez and U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Dan Layug.
Still awaiting trial are former Department of Defense civilian employee Paul Simpkins, retired U.S. Navy Captain Michael Brooks, Lieutenant Commander Gentry Debord and Commander Bobby Pitts.
Brooks served as the U.S. Naval Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines from June 2006 to July 2008.
Three rear admirals in the U.S. Navy were reprimanded for wrongdoing in the Navy bribery scandal but will not face charges.
Commander of Carrier Strike Group 7 on USS Ronald Reagan Rear Admiral Michael Miller received a letter of censure along with Rear Admiral Terry Kraft, who was commanding officer on the same ship, and Rear Admiral David Pimpo, who once served as supply officer of the aircraft carrier.
A letter of this nature is viewed as a career-ending development for the officers.
In his 37-year career with the U.S. Navy, Gilbeau has been awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service in Iraq in 2007.
The Associated Press reports that his most recent post was as a special assistant to the commander of the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command.
He was reportedly moved to the position after the Navy learned he was being investigated.
Gilbeau is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26.
Ping
Copped a plea, gets a slap on the wrist, and keeps his hefty pension? Crime does pay, if you have enough rank.
I don’t know. A conviction is a civilian matter, isn’t it?
After that takes place, the Navy could demote him, maybe even give him a Big Chicken Dinner. That could do a number on the pension.
Navy gave him a do-nothing job to keep him on the payroll.
In World War II, there were 30 Navy ships for every admiral. Now, the Navy has more admirals than ships.
Yeah, I saw that. And for someone who was in for thirty-seven years, I’d don’t know if I’d call him ‘highly decorated.’
” He wears the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 awards), Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (5 awards), Combat Action Ribbon, NATO Medal and multiple campaign and unit awards.”
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=608
Why did he have to surrender his firearms?
Cool. The article only listed the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. What you posted makes it easier to believe he passed the admiral boards in the first place.
Felons don’t get guns.
What advantage would the ships itinerary give to the stated commercial enterprise? It’s obvious what advantage it would give to enemies.
Active Duty ping.
Right, I see that now, it was a felony..
I doubt you’ll find any supporters among active-duty sailors for this dirtbag supply corps rat.
TC
Meanwhile, while these guys are in trouble the Clinton Foundation has been taking in money indirectly from the Malaysia/GoldmanSachs bribery scandal
in the news again
also caught is Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless, naval “intelligence.”
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