{"id":42519,"date":"2019-07-30T19:28:41","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T19:28:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/30\/korean-fat-leonard-feds-probe-new-us-navy-corruption-case-in-asia\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:52:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:52:46","slug":"korean-fat-leonard-feds-probe-new-us-navy-corruption-case-in-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/2019\/07\/30\/korean-fat-leonard-feds-probe-new-us-navy-corruption-case-in-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Fat Leonard? Feds probe new US Navy corruption case in Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 The Justice Department has filed corruption charges against the head of a Busan, Korea,-based husbanding services provider in a case with unmistakable echoes of the Fat Leonard scandal<\/a> that has rocked the Navy since the investigation was revealed in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sung-Yol \u201cDavid\u201d Kim, head of DK Marine Service, has been charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery, according to documents filed with the Eastern District of Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation has already netted the former civilian master of the dry cargo ship Charles Drew, a Military Sealift Command<\/a> ship that operates in the Pacific. James Driver pled guilty July 16 to one count of conspiracy, according to court documents, and is awaiting sentencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s unclear how deep the alleged fraud ran but it is clear that, DK Marine Services performed extensive work for both Military Sealift Command and US Navy assets, including the carriers Reagan and George Washington, the minesweeper Chief, the destroyer Sterett and numerous other support ships, according to images posted on DK Marine Service\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news that another husbanding services provider in Asia is at the center of a federal corruption case is a hammer-blow to the Navy, which has been struggling for years as dozens of its officers, including several senior leaders, have come under scrutiny for their dealings with Glenn Defense Marine Asia and its gregarious, corpulent chief executive Leonard \u201cFat Leonard\u201d Francis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Husbanding services providers act as fixers for the Navy, contracting with the service to arrange tugs, fresh water and sewer service, cable and internet, trash pickup and various other essential services ships require when in port. Francis was accused of ingratiating himself with Navy officers with everything from golf junkets and prostitutes to Broadway musical tickets to secure contracts that he\u2019d then overcharge for.<\/p>\n\n\n\t