2 more Navy officers plead guilty in massive bribery case

NORFOLK, Va. – Two U.S. Navy officers have admitted they accepted the services of prostitutes and gifts as part of a corruption scandal that spanned a decade and involved dozens of Navy officials.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Cmdr. Jason Starmer pleaded guilty to wilful dereliction of duty, patronizing a prostitute and adultery and Capt. John Steinberger pleaded guilty to wilful dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman in separate military courtrooms at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday. Both will be administratively separated from the service as part of pre-trial agreements.

More than 20 people have pleaded guilty so far in connection with the conspiracy in which authorities say a Malaysian businessman nicknamed “Fat Leonard” Francis bribed officials to help him overbill the Navy for services his company provided to ships docked in Asian ports.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com