Leonard Francis, the former military contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who orchestrated the largest corruption scandal in U.S. Navy history, was arrested Tuesday morning by authorities in Venezuela at the request of the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the agency.
Francisco is currently being held by Venezuelan authorities, and U.S. government officials have begun proceedings with Venezuela in an effort to seek extradition, Deputy Supervising U.S. Marshal Omar Castillo told CNN on Wednesday.
US federal law enforcement previously filed a so-called “Red Notice” with the multinational police organization INTERPOL after Francis fled earlier this month, Castillo said. A Red Notice is a global request to participating INTERPOL members to temporarily arrest a wanted suspect pending further legal action, such as extradition.
The former contractor escaped house arrest in San Diego two weeks ago by cutting off his GPS tracking ankle bracelet, Castillo told CNN at the time.
He escaped just three weeks before his sentencing.
Francis, whose nickname “Fat Leonard” came from his then 400-pound weight, pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud in 2015.
The investigation into the corruption scandal began in 2013 and has touched capitals and ports across the Pacific, including Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and Manila. During the investigation, several Navy officials were arrested and accused of accepting cash, prostitutes and all-expenses-paid trips in exchange for driving ships to ports where Francis’ contracting company operated, providing services such as fuel and tugs.
