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Corruption ringleader 'Fat Leonard' arrested in Venezuela after escaping San Diego confinement

Convict had cut off his ankle monitor and fled house arrest.

Published: September 22, 2022 3:19pm

Updated: September 22, 2022 3:29pm

Leonard "Fat Leonard" Francis, the mastermind behind the largest corruption scandal in U.S. Navy history, has been apprehended in Venezuela two weeks after escaping confinement in San Diego. 

The US Marshals Service reportedly asked Venezuelan authorities to arrest the escapee, who fled house arrest in California after cutting his ankle monitor. 

Officials are working on extraditing Francis to the United States, CNN reported on Thursday. 

Francis pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery charges in 2015 in connection with schemes to ply Navy workers into steering ships into ports where Francis's contracting businesses could profit from commercial activity there.

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