Navy commander pleads guilty in massive bribery case
COURTESY U.S. NAVY
In this Dec. 4, 2010 photo, Cmdr. Michael V. Misiewicz, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin, is greeted by members of his family as Mustin arrives in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
SAN DIEGO » A Navy commander accused of diverting ships to Asian ports for a Malaysian contractor offering prostitution services and other gifts pleaded guilty to bribery charges today, marking the eighth conviction in the massive scandal.
Michael Misiewicz is one of the highest ranking Naval officers charged in the case, which is centered on businessman Leonard Francis, nicknamed “Fat Leonard” because of his wide girth. Misiewicz pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery of a public official at a hearing in federal court in San Diego.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if sentenced to the maximum amount for both charges.
His defense lawyers said in a statement that Misiewicz regrets his actions from 2011 to 2012. They went on to say that they plan to show at his sentencing hearing this was an “extreme departure from his otherwise distinguished and honorable 30 plus year career.”
Only one defendant of the nine named in the case is still fighting the charges. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing and there could be more arrests.
Francis has admitted to providing an exhaustive list of gifts in exchange for classified information that helped his Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, overbill the Navy by at least $20 million. He is awaiting sentencing.
Misiewicz accepted theater tickets, prostitution services and other items, according to the criminal complaint. He provided ship routes to Francis and then they moved ships like chess pieces, diverting them to Pacific ports with lax oversight where GDMA submitted fake tariffs and other fees, prosecutors said.
In 2010, Misiewicz caught the world’s attention when he made an emotional return as a U.S. Naval commander to his native Cambodia, where he had been rescued as a child from the violence of the Khmer Rouge and adopted by an American woman. His homecoming was widely covered by international media.
A sentencing hearing was set for April 29.
Lt. Commander Todd Malaki, who has pleaded guilty in the same case, and is scheduled to be sentenced Friday. He faces a maximum of five years in prison.
14 responses to “Navy commander pleads guilty in massive bribery case”
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He had advantages and as usual he let his lower head cloud his judgement. Weakness of the flesh has done-in more people then not.
Rear Admiral released from command for watching porn on government computers and now this. Where is the “higher standard” that our military claims to hold their personnel to? Shibai.
The real warriors – – the ones with integrity – – were passed over and forced out by 7 years of politically correct excesses.
Thanks for another useless comment.
Truth stings, eh?
Um no, you have no proof, circumstantial or otherwise to substantiate your claim.
Oh yeah?
How about the number of Navy Commanding Officers relieved FOR CAUSE in just one year?
Baloney.
The higher standard is holding people accountable for their actions, which has happened with Rear Admiral Porn and this knucklehead.
You can take the boy out of the ghetto but you cannot take the ghetto out of the boy.
The real question should be if this moron gets to keep his full military retirement. He should receive a dishonorable discharge just like the many members he punished during his career.
Morality starts from the top. We now have gays serving, gay marriages in the service, transgenders in the service. We have women in submarines and in combat–anyone who’s been in the service particularly in combat knows this does not work. Men, by design tend to protect the women, and by design detest the “others” they have to serve with. Once again, it all started 7 years ago!!
How exactly is a woman in combat a morality issue? A different issue, yes, but it is not a moral one. And there have always been homosexuals in the service, hidden, don’t ask don’t tell, or what ever, but yes always there.
Let me guess: you never served a day in your “life” in uniform, eh?