Ex-US Navy captain latest to plead guilty in bribery scandal linked to Singapore-based contractor ‘Fat Leonard’

The fourth of nine US Navy officers who were headed to trial in the “Fat Leonard” bribery scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Former Captain Donald Hornbeck, 61, pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to one count of bribery of a public official, one month ahead of the expected trial start date.

The plea has been in the works for a while – his lawyer implied a guilty plea was imminent back in November, and a previously scheduled change of plea hearing was cancelled last month due to Covid-19.

In the plea agreement, Hornbeck admitted to using his position to steer Navy business to Singapore-based Malaysian contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, nicknamed for his girth. In return, Hornbeck was bribed with extravagant dinners, luxury hotel stays and hedonistic parties with prostitutes, to a value of at least US$67,000, according to court records.

Hornbeck exercised his influence over contracts first as an assistant chief of staff for operations aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk from 2005 to 2007, and later as the deputy chief of staff for operations for the entire Seventh Fleet, the Navy’s largest.

On several occasions, Hornbeck was one of Francis’ top go-to advocates inside the Navy. Emails show Francis asking Hornbeck to divert Navy ships to Southeast Asian ports Francis controlled – including what ended up being a US$1.85 million visit by the Kitty Hawk to Port Klang, Malaysia, in 2007.

In later emails, Francis leaned on Hornbeck to resolve billing disputes between the Navy and Francis’ company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. It was later determined that Francis’ company had fleeced the Navy out of at least US$35 million over the years.