A former vice chief of naval operations, a retired four-star Admiral, was arrested on Friday for allegedly engaging in a bribery scheme. The Admiral, along with the co-CEOs of a company, is facing charges related to steering government contracts in exchange for personal gain.
The Justice Department has charged the Admiral with bribery, conspiracy, performing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and concealing material facts from the United States. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison. The co-CEOs of the company are also facing charges and could each face up to 20 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, the Admiral helped the company secure a contract with the US government to provide training to Navy forces in Italy and Spain. The group had allegedly agreed for the Admiral to assist in landing a much larger contract worth 'triple digit millions' for training a significant portion of the Navy.
The company, referred to as 'Company A' in court documents, is believed to be NextJump, as its co-CEOs match the descriptions provided. In return for securing the contract, the co-CEOs promised the Admiral a high-paying job at the company, which he started in October 2022 with a yearly salary of $500,000.
To cover up the scheme, prosecutors claim that the Admiral misled the Navy by denying his involvement in securing the contract and falsely stating that discussions about the job opportunity began after the contract was awarded.
The Navy has stated that it takes these charges seriously and has cooperated fully with the investigation. The Admiral's legal representative has indicated that they plan to contest the allegations and are prepared to go to trial to prove his innocence.
