Fat Leonard case: US Navy censures retired senior officer

Secretary of the U.S. Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued a Secretarial Letter of Censure to a now-retired senior officer, Rear Adm. Kenneth Norton, following a thorough review into his interactions with Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA).

While serving as the commanding officer, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) from 2008-2010 in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, Norton was found to have repeatedly and improperly accepted gifts from GDMA, a defense contractor and prohibited source, the navy said.

Further, Norton’s personal behavior was found to have constituted conduct unbecoming an officer, the statement issued by the navy reads.

“After reviewing the findings and recommendation of the Consolidated Disposition Authority for GDMA matters, I decided that Rear Adm. (ret.) Norton’s conduct reflected improper personal behavior and set a wholly unethical tone of leadership. Censure was both necessary and appropriate,” Spencer said.

Norton retired from the navy in 2014.

GDMA is the subject of an ongoing federal fraud and bribery investigation which was initiated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

In March 2014, the secretary of the navy directed the appointment of a Consolidated Disposition Authority (CDA) to act as an independent authority to review GDMA matters forwarded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the navy after the DOJ has declined to press criminal changes in the federal judicial system. The purpose of the CDA is to review the GDMA-related conduct of navy members and determine what, if any, disciplinary or administrative actions are warranted and available.

GDMA bribery case, also referred to as the “Fat Leonard” case after the nickname of GDMA CEO Francis Leonard, is dragging down one U.S. Navy official after another for their roles in disclosing sensitive information about navy operations in exchange for cash, prostitutes, and in one case, Lady Gaga concert tickets.