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A assemblage connected Monday convicted a retired four-star admiral who served arsenic the U.S. Navy's second-highest-ranking serviceman connected corruption charges for steering contracts to a institution successful speech for a lucrative job.
Robert Burke ordered unit to grant a $355,000 declaration to a company, and past began moving determination astatine a $500,000-a-year occupation aft his 2022 status from the Navy, the Department of Justice said.
He besides unsuccessfully attempted to person a apical serviceman to springiness the steadfast a abstracted contract.
A assemblage recovered him blameworthy of offenses including bribery, performing acts affecting a idiosyncratic fiscal interest, and concealment of worldly facts, tribunal records show. A expansive assemblage successful Washington, D.C., indicted Burke in May 2024.
Sentencing is acceptable for August, the aforesaid period that 2 co-CEOs of exertion services steadfast Next Jump are to spell connected proceedings successful a related case, the Washington Post reported.
File: Adm. Robert Burke (ret.), 2021
DVIDS, Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Monday's verdict makes Burke the astir elder serviceman to beryllium convicted successful caller years for crimes committed portion serving successful the U.S. military.
In the Navy, Burke served arsenic lawman commandant of the US 6th Fleet, commandant of Submarine Group 8, and main of naval unit — a presumption helium held astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic erstwhile helium was vice main of naval operations, the service's second-highest position.
Prosecutors said Burke allegedly secured a authorities declaration for his codefendants Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger successful speech for a aboriginal job.
Investigators alleged Burke, Kim and Messenger began communicating astir a caller declaration for the "perks astatine work" institution successful 2021, years aft the Navy officially chopped ties with the corporation. According to tribunal documents, they entered into discussions aft Burke and his bureau had rebuffed the company's archetypal overtures, citing U.S. Navy policy.
In April 2021, prosecutors said the trio spoke via WhatsApp. "Burke wants to enactment for us, but we're asking for a woody first," Kim allegedly said aft the call, adding that Messenger "felt slimy," the indictment revealed.
Weeks later, according to charging documents, Burke asked an unnamed idiosyncratic to find backing to unafraid the institution a declaration from U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. And successful July, helium allegedly met with Kim, Messenger, and different unnamed idiosyncratic for luncheon successful Washington, D.C, during which clip they discussed the admiral ensuring the institution received its national contract.
"In speech [they] offered Burke a occupation astatine Company A – astatine a wage of astatine slightest $500,000 per twelvemonth and a assistance of 100,000 banal options...to commence aft Burke retired from the Navy," prosecutors wrote.
According to national prosecutors, successful August of 2021, the admiral gave announcement that helium intended to discontinue successful May 2022.
Prosecutors besides charged Burke with allegedly concealing his behaviour from Navy officials portion promoting the company's enactment to others.
"When you maltreatment your presumption and betray the nationalist spot to enactment your ain pockets, it undermines the assurance successful the authorities you represent," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said successful a statement Monday aft Burke's conviction. "Our office, with our instrumentality enforcement partners, volition basal retired corruption – beryllium it bribes oregon amerciable contracts – and clasp accountable the perpetrators, nary substance what rubric oregon fertile they hold."
The Navy has faced different corruption problems successful caller years, with the astir notorious ungraded involving Leonard Francis — known arsenic "Fat Leonard" — who handed retired much than $500,000 successful currency bribes and provided prostitutes, first-class travel, luxury edifice stays and lavish meals to naval officers.
Francis was sentenced to 15 years successful situation successful November 2024, aft fleeing location apprehension and traveling to Venezuela earlier being returned successful a captive swap the erstwhile year.
As portion of a plea agreement, Francis provided authorities investigators with elaborate accusation that led to the condemnation of a fig of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers.
Robert Legare contributed to this report.
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