• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their pen

JANFU

Land by the Gulf Stream
Supporting Member
DP Veteran
Monthly Donator
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
58,865
Reaction score
38,456
Location
Best Coast Canada
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Slightly Liberal
https://www.washingtonpost.com/inve...d-940am:homepage/story&utm_term=.e73714ec4f56

Robert Gilbeau is in a heap of legal trouble. In June, he became the first active-duty Navy admiral in modern history to be convicted of a felony. Next month, he faces sentencing and could land in federal prison for up to five years.

Military personnel found guilty of serious misconduct are usually demoted and forced to retire. Because pension values are based on rank, losing a star or a stripe leads to a partial reduction in retirement income.

David P. Sheldon, a defense attorney from Washington, said there are few guidelines for when the penalty should be imposed. He once represented a Marine major who was dropped from the rolls for a comparatively mild crime: concealing financial transactions.
Should those convicted be dropped from the "Rolls". This can only be done after all appeals are completed.
This would result in their loss of pension and all benefits.
The Navy is still investigating hundreds more than 200 personnel including 8 Admirals.
Opinions are?
Should those of flag rank receive a harsher penalty, as they may have also undermined any complaints made against Fat Leonard and his overfilling.

Previous news reports stated that earlier complaints- investigations went no where fast. That only happens with pressure and influence from much higher.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

https://www.washingtonpost.com/inve...d-940am:homepage/story&utm_term=.e73714ec4f56


Should those convicted be dropped from the "Rolls". This can only be done after all appeals are completed.
This would result in their loss of pension and all benefits.
The Navy is still investigating hundreds more than 200 personnel including 8 Admirals.
Opinions are?
Should those of flag rank receive a harsher penalty, as they may have also undermined any complaints made against Fat Leonard and his overfilling.

Previous news reports stated that earlier complaints- investigations went no where fast. That only happens with pressure and influence from much higher.

Why should senior officers be immune from the penalties faced by any lower ranking service member when they are convicted of either a violation of the UCMJ or criminal law?

If a Sergeant or junior officer can lose everything based on a dishonorable separation from service, regardless of time in service, why not an Admiral, General, or Field Grade officer?

He did wrong, separation dishonorable. He loses his benefits. Period.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

Love it.

I was in the Navy. Nothing gives a person of higher rank more pleasure than to screw up somebody of a lower rank.

I have seen "E-Nothings," have almost everything, but their birthday's, taken away because of the pettiest of offenses.

The higher ups should be shown the same mercy they show the lowly enlisted. None.

Tie the Admiral to the yardarms. FTN. :mrgreen:
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

I have been following this with interest. I was a military attache in both Cambodia and Indonesia at the time many of these things were occurring. I was required to obtain "husbanding services" from this company whenever we had a US Navy ship make a port call. For the non-navy types a husbanding agent is who coordinates logistical supplies for the ship when it comes to port. Fuel, security, food, water, transportation, morale activities for the crew, and countless other things.

We are talking BIG money. The husbanding agent makes a bulk of its money by marking up the services it coordinates for. So the more services that are requested the more money the husbanding agent makes. So the problems occur when the husbanding agent starts giving gifts and perks to the officers who decide what services will be requested from that same husbanding agent.

Now, I was an Army warrant officer at the time but I have recently found out some of the Navy personnel I worked with were busted in this scheme, including one of the Admirals. I remember NCIS calling me a couple years ago to ask me questions about them and if I saw any improprieties. I told the truth and said I didn't. But I doubt they would have done such things in front of my Army ass. :)

What punishment do I think the Admirals should get? To me it depends on the extent of their crime. Some of these people did nothing more than accept a few paid for meals. Others may have blocked investigations and accepted expensive gifts. All guilty parties should be punished according to the extent of their misdeeds.

I do believe Admirals should be held to a higher standard.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

I have been following this with interest. I was a military attache in both Cambodia and Indonesia at the time many of these things were occurring. I was required to obtain "husbanding services" from this company whenever we had a US Navy ship make a port call. For the non-navy types a husbanding agent is who coordinates logistical supplies for the ship when it comes to port. Fuel, security, food, water, transportation, morale activities for the crew, and countless other things.

We are talking BIG money. The husbanding agent makes a bulk of its money by marking up the services it coordinates for. So the more services that are requested the more money the husbanding agent makes. So the problems occur when the husbanding agent starts giving gifts and perks to the officers who decide what services will be requested from that same husbanding agent.

Now, I was an Army warrant officer at the time but I have recently found out some of the Navy personnel I worked with were busted in this scheme, including one of the Admirals. I remember NCIS calling me a couple years ago to ask me questions about them and if I saw any improprieties. I told the truth and said I didn't. But I doubt they would have done such things in front of my Army ass. :)

What punishment do I think the Admirals should get? To me it depends on the extent of their crime. Some of these people did nothing more than accept a few paid for meals. Others may have blocked investigations and accepted expensive gifts. All guilty parties should be punished according to the extent of their misdeeds.

I do believe Admirals should be held to a higher standard.

Agreed, goes to the level of involvement. Now Flag Rank, I wonder how many stymied previous investigations. As IIRC there were previous investigations, Officer and enlisted that reported up the chain regarding legitimate overcharges, well those as they say went into the shredder.
And we know full well what happens to anyone who went outside of the chain and reported their claims. Burnt at the stake, careers ended, transferred to OIC Photocopiers.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

They took an oath to be men of honor. They violated their oath...screw'em.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

Why should senior officers be immune from the penalties faced by any lower ranking service member when they are convicted of either a violation of the UCMJ or criminal law?

If a Sergeant or junior officer can lose everything based on a dishonorable separation from service, regardless of time in service, why not an Admiral, General, or Field Grade officer?

He did wrong, separation dishonorable. He loses his benefits. Period.

Politics... it is
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

Here is my question.

Why was he and others tried and convicted in Federal Court? Why was this not done by a military Court Martial, under the UCMJ?

This would have made it simple and direct. Under a General Court Martial, the UCMJ allows the Court to basically strip the individual convicted from the military, and to forfeit all pay and allowances they have earned. A Federal Court simply does not have this kind of power. No more than a conviction in Federal Court strips anybody of their private pensions.

Want to see these people stripped of their pensions, Court Martial them. But do not complain that they still keep their pensions when they were prosecuted outside of the Military legal system.
 
Re: Navy officers convicted of corruption in ‘Fat Leonard’ scandal haven’t lost their

Here is my question.

Why was he and others tried and convicted in Federal Court? Why was this not done by a military Court Martial, under the UCMJ?

This would have made it simple and direct. Under a General Court Martial, the UCMJ allows the Court to basically strip the individual convicted from the military, and to forfeit all pay and allowances they have earned. A Federal Court simply does not have this kind of power. No more than a conviction in Federal Court strips anybody of their private pensions.

Want to see these people stripped of their pensions, Court Martial them. But do not complain that they still keep their pensions when they were prosecuted outside of the Military legal system.

Myself I was not aware of this difference.
Possibly the Military, JCS wanted to control this particular issue??
 
Back
Top Bottom