2 more Navy officers plead guilty in massive bribery case

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Two U.S. Navy officers have admitted they accepted the services of prostitutes and gifts as part of a corruption scandal that spanned a decade and involved dozens of Navy officials.

The Virginian-Pilot <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”https://pilotonline.com/news/military/local/article%E2%80%94c4348efa-74a0-50c2-afde-ff205e6abbcd.html”>reports</a> Cmdr. Jason Starmer pleaded guilty to willful dereliction of duty, patronizing a prostitute and adultery and Capt. John Steinberger pleaded guilty to willful dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman in separate military courtrooms at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday. Both will be administratively separated from the service as part of pre-trial agreements.

More than 20 people have pleaded guilty so far in connection with the conspiracy in which authorities say a Malaysian businessman nicknamed “Fat Leonard” Francis bribed officials to help him overbill the Navy for services his company provided to ships docked in Asian ports.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”http://pilotonline.com”>http://pilotonline.com</a>

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