U.S. Authorities Offer $40,000 Reward for ‘Fat Leonard’ Tips Leading to Arrest

The U.S. Marshals Service and Naval Criminal Investigative Service are offering a combined reward of up to $40,000—$20,000 from each agency—for any information leading up to the arrest of fugitive Leonard Francis. 

Also known as “Fat Leonard,” Francis was the military contractor who pleaded guilty in 2015 of bribing Navy officials and was on home-confinement in San Diego. His escape came weeks before he was scheduled to be sentenced for his role in an expansive bribery scheme involving scores of U.S. Navy officials, tens of millions of dollars in fraud and millions of dollars in bribes.

In exchange for contracts, Francis, through his Singapore-based ship husbanding company Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), offered lavish gifts, including luxury travel, airline upgrades, five-star hotel accommodations, top-shelf alcohol, the services of prostitutes, Cuban cigars, Kobe beef and Spanish suckling pigs. The U.S. Justice Department charged a total of 33 defendants in the scheme and at least 22 have pleaded guilty, many admitting to accepting things of value from Francis in exchange for helping the contractor win and maintain contracts and overbill the Navy by millions of dollars.

Francis allegedly cut off his GPS monitor and left his home on the morning of Sept. 4. 

U.S. Pretrial Services, the federal agency in charge of monitoring his home confinement, was alerted that Francis’ GPS ankle monitor was being tampered with on the morning of his disappearance. The agency then attempted to contact Francis with no success.

U.S. Pretrial Services followed up by contacting Francis’ defense attorney, who stated they would attempt to contact Francis and have him contact the agency. However, Francis’ defense attorney advised there was no answer and the San Diego Police Department was contacted by Francis’ legal team to conduct a welfare check. The San Diego Police Department arrived at the residence, and concluded that Francis did not appear to be home.

U.S. Pretrial Services then contacted the U.S. Marshals for assistance, sending a San Diego Fugitive Task Force to Francis’ residence to locate him. They made entry into the residence through an unlocked door, but officers were unable to locate Francis, instead finding that the GPS ankle monitor that had been cut off. 

His current whereabouts are unknown.

Anyone with information on Francis’ whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals at 877-926-8332.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted via the USMS Tips App.