Navy Officer Pleads Guilty in 'Fat Leonard' Bribery Investigation as 6 Others Face Federal Trial...

A former U.S. 7th Fleet staff officer and ship commander pleaded guilty Wednesday to two conspiracy charges in the major fraud and bribery case surrounding Glenn Defense Marine Asia and scores of Navy officials, U.S. prosecutors announced.

Cmdr. Stephen Shedd, 48, who was facing numerous charges of conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud, appeared in federal court in San Diego, Calif., and admitted his role in an alleged conspiracy with eight other officials indicted in 2017 for taking more than $250,000 in bribes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

In pleading guilty to one count conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery of a public official Shedd acknowledged that from May 2007 to September 2013, he sought or accepted bribes that included travel, entertainment, meals, hotel stays and other gifts, including a pair of expensive, his-and-her watches from Leonard Glenn Francis, according to the plea agreement. He could face as much as 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines when he is sentenced July 21 by U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino, who has been overseeing most of the so-called “Fat Leonard” corruption cases.