Navy Corruption Scandal Results In Prison Time For Highest-Ranking Officer Yet

Capt. Daniel Dusek, 49, shown in an undated photo provided by the Navy, is the highest-ranking officer to face charges so far in a Navy corruption scandal. Dusek served as the deputy director of operations for the 7th Fleet and commanded two ships, the Essex and the Bonhomme Richard.

Navy

A Navy captain has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his involvement in a bribery scandal.

Capt. Daniel Dusek, the former deputy director of operations for the Navy's 7th Fleet, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting he traded classified information for luxury gifts and access to prostitutes. He was sentenced to 46 months on Friday.

He's the highest-ranking officer who has faced charges for his involvement in the scandal. Two admirals had their access to classified material suspended several years ago, over alleged connections to the scandal. To this day, both admirals — one of whom is the Navy's intelligence chief — are blocked from viewing classified documents.

The scandal in question centers on foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, or "Fat Leonard."

Francis plied officers with vacations, prostitutes, cash and gifts including "top-shelf alcohol, ornamental swords and handmade ship models," the Associated Press reports.

Dusek acknowledge that he received free hotel stays, alcohol, meals, gifts, entertainment and prostitutes. In return, he would send Francis and his employees classified Navy ship schedules, giving the contractors information that helped them overcharge the military.

In an email to an employee, the Justice Department says, Francis called Dusek "a golden asset to drive the big decks (aircraft carriers) into our fat revenue GDMA ports."

Before his sentencing at a federal court in San Diego, Dusek told the judge, "I will hold this guilt in my heart for the rest of my life," the AP reports.

After serving as Deputy Operations Officer for the 7th Fleet, Dusek commanded the USS Essex and then the USS Bonhomme Richard.

He was relieved of duty as commander of the Bonhomme in 2013 over the bribery scandal. After pleading guilty to bribery in 2015, Dusek remained on active duty at a desk job, Navy Times reported.

In addition to his prison sentence, Dusek will also have to pay $100,000 in fines and restitution to the Navy.

Ten other people, including Naval commanders, have been charged so far for their involvement in the corruption scandal.

Dusek has "hinted" that higher-ranking officers than him were being bribed, The Washington Post reports. The paper has more on the broader scandal:

"In a fresh revelation, Dusek said Francis went so far as to purchase a decommissioned British naval vessel and turned it into a party boat to entertain top U.S. Navy officials. The ship, originally known as the RFA Sir Lancelot, was rechristened the Glenn Braveheart after Francis bought it in 2003.

"Dusek also said that Francis had a traveling squad of prostitutes and strippers — dubbed his 'Thai SEAL Team' — who accompanied him to greet U.S. ships as they arrived in Asian ports."