U.S. Marshals Offering Reward For Information Leading To The Arrest of Fugitive Leonard "Fat Leonard" Francis

The U.S. Marshals Service released the below:

 

San Diego, CA – The U.S. Marshals Service and Naval Criminal Investigative Service are offering a combined reward of up to $40,000 ($20,000 from each agency) for any information leading up to the arrest of fugitive Leonard Francis. 

Also known as “Fat Leonard,” the military contractor who pleaded guilty in 2015 of bribing Navy officials and was on home-confinement in San Diego weeks before he was scheduled to be sentenced in a $35 million bribery scandal. He allegedly cut off his GPS monitor and left his home on the morning of Sept. 4. 

On September 4, 2022, at 7:35 a.m. U.S. Pretrial Services, the federal agency in charge of monitoring his home confinement, received an alert that Francis’ GPS ankle monitor was being tampered with. U.S. Pretrial Services then attempted to contact Francis with no success. U.S. Pretrial Services followed up by contacting Francis’ defense attorney. His attorney stated they would attempt to contact Francis and have him contact U.S. Pretrial Services.

At 1:28 p.m. Francis’ defense attorney advised there was no answer. The San Diego Police Department was then contacted by Francis’ legal team to conduct a welfare check. At approximately 2:42 p.m., the San Diego Police Department arrived at the residence, and concluded that Francis did not appear to be home.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. U.S. Pretrial Services contacted the U.S. Marshals for assistance in locating Francis.

At approximately 4 p.m. members of the San Diego Fugitive Task Force went to Francis’ residence to locate him. After announcing themselves, task force officers made entry into the residence through an unlocked door. After a thorough check of the residence, officers were unable to locate Francis. Officers were able to locate the GPS ankle monitor that had been cut off. 

His current whereabouts are unknown.

Anyone with information on Francis’ whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals at 877-926-8332.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted via the USMS Tips App.  

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for over 84,000 fugitive arrests annually, arresting both federal fugitives as well as supporting state and local law enforcement agencies with apprehending dangerous fugitives across the nation and internationally

You can also read my Counterterrorism magazine piece on the Fat Leonard U.S. Navy bribery and fraud scandal via the below link:

 Paul Davis On Crime: My Piece On The 'Fat Leonard' U.S. Navy Bribery And Fraud Case