A former four-star US Navy admiral has been arrested on accusations of offering a government contract to a company in exchange for a prospective job with the firm.
Admiral Robert Burke, previously vice-chief of naval operations until 2022, may face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty of bribery charges, according to prosecutors.
During his initial court appearance in Miami, Florida, Adm Burke, 62, refrained from entering a formal plea.
Two executives from the involved company, referred to as Company A, have also been arrested, each facing potential sentences of up to 20 years.
US Attorney Matthew M Graves remarked, “The law applies to all, regardless of rank or position. Those involved in bribery must be held accountable.”
Adm Burke, responsible for overseeing naval operations in Europe, Russia, and Africa from 2020 to 2022, faces charges including bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, and other related offenses.
At the time of his retirement, Adm Burke held the second-highest position in the US Navy.
His defense attorney stated that Adm Burke intends to plead not guilty.
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The company executives, Yongchul “Charlie” Kim, 50, and Meghan Messenger, 47, are accused of participating in a scheme offering Adm Burke a post-retirement job with a substantial salary and stock options in exchange for a lucrative Navy contract.
Prosecutors allege that Adm Burke awarded a $355,000 contract to the company for Navy personnel training in 2021, following a meeting with Kim and Messenger in Washington DC, despite naval officials’ directives not to engage with them.
Authorities from various investigative agencies, including the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, are actively pursuing the case.