Ex-federal investigator sentenced to 12 years for bribery

A former federal agent was sentenced to 12 years in prison for tipping off a defense contractor who was under investigation for overbilling the Navy by at least USD 35 million.
Former Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigator John Beliveau II was also ordered to pay USD 20 million in restitution.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Beliveau to 15 years, the harshest punishment sought yet in the bribery case that has led to charges against 16 people.
The defendants include nearly a dozen current and former Navy officials. Like Beliveau, prosecutors say, most of them were bought off with luxury hotel stays and the services of prostitutes provided by Malaysian contractor Leonard Francis.

Beliveau, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, apologized in a letter to the court, adding he deserves and understands "the feeling of anger, vengeance and disgust from others in my former field."
He asked for forgiveness and offered himself as an example of what not to do in law enforcement.

His attorney, Jessica Carmichael, said her client was targeted by Francis, a boisterous executive with Glenn Defense Marine Asia who is nicknamed "Fat Leonard."
Beliveau, 47, has suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder since he was 6, according to his attorney's court filings.
He also has suffered from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and has had alcohol problems, Carmichael said.

She had asked the judge to sentence him to no more than a year in home confinement and the maximum period of supervised release.
"We were very disappointed that the government dismissed and belittled his mental health condition, calling it nonsense and an alphabet soup of disorders," Carmichael said outside court.
Beliveau was taken into custody immediately at his request.
Prosecutors say Beliveau shared hundreds of internal files with Francis about criminal investigations being conducted regarding his business, and in return GDMA executives arranged prostitutes, provided Beliveau up to USD 30,000 in cash, and sent him on trips around Asia.

Francis is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to bribing Navy officials with more than USD 500,000 in cash, sex workers, Cuban cigars, Kobe beef, model ships and others gifts in exchange for favors that helped him beat out competitors and overbill the Navy.