Retired Navy Four Star Convicted
Former VCNO Admiral Robert Burke
Robert Burke, a retired Navy Four Star Admiral and former Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and two business executives – Yongchul “Charlie” Kim, 50, and Meghan Messenger, 47, both of New York– were arrested last May on charges related to their alleged roles in a bribery scheme involving U.S. government contracts. They allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position in the DOD to steer a sole-source contract to Kim and Messenger’s company in exchange for future employment.
They further allegedly agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award them contracts providing training to a large portion of the Navy, with a value Kim allegedly estimated to be “triple digit millions.”
He was hired by the company in October 2022 with a $500,000 salary and $100,000 in stock options after retiring from the Navy.
Navy’s former second-in-command convicted in historic corruption case
Retired four-star Admiral Robert Burke found guilty in scheme to direct contracts in exchange for $500,000-a-year job
Stepheny Price By Stepheny Price Fox News
A retired four-star admiral who once served as the Navy’s second-highest ranking officer, was convicted of bribery and other conspiracy charges, making him the most senior member of the U.S. military ever convicted of committing a federal crime while on active duty.
Following a five-day trial, retired four-star Adm. Robert P. Burke, 62, was found guilty on Monday of a scheme to direct lucrative contracts to a training company in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job after leaving the Navy, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
Burke is facing up to 30 years in prison for his role in the scheme to direct contracts potentially worth millions of dollars to a New York City-based company that offered training programs to the Navy.
“When you abuse your position and betray the public trust to line your own pockets, it undermines the confidence in the government you represent,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro wrote in a post on X following the conviction.
Fat Leonard’s new cellmate? Wait and see if Burke is awarded any actual prison time, and how this affects his retirement. I don’t think a loss of a star and a subsequent reduction in in benefits will suffice, though. He should be a poster boy for ‘pour encourager les autres’ and I hope he gets the max.
Category: Big Navy, Dick Stepping
Burn him. Take everything he owns and receives. Put a stop to anything China involvement Now. Corruption unbelievable.
Is he the only one to be caught?
Somehow I doubt he is the only one that did that.
Our flags officers have a tendency to create close relationships with flag officers from furriner countries, where this kind of corruption is standard behavior.
Well slap my ass and call me Sally, I never thought he would see the inside of a courthouse, much less be convicted. Maybe things are changing for real?
This entire scenario is unpossible.
Well, I guess his ill gotten gains will accrue interest while he’s in the can and he’ll have plenty of money in his nineties when he gets out.
Another thought, It’s really easy to not do stuff like this. Prison seems to be full of people who think they got away with it.
Federal Asset Forfeiture.
Seize it all, including his legit bank account if there’s even one crooked dollar co-mingled there. Money laundering, son. House, car, etc…
Well Burke, I see you’re qualified in Submarines. Some of the terms you are familiar with will have a new meaning.
Prepare to snorkel – get on your knees to service your cell mate as he raises his mast.
Silent Service – stay quiet so the guards don’t hear your pain.
Dive, Dive – Get busy snorkeling
“…pour encourager les autres’…” Do submarines have yardarms? Make keelhauling great again!
effing dumbass! Greedy booger, wasn’t he.
Where do periscopes fit into all of this?
According to other news sources quoting Burke’s defense team, they were not allowed to present any evidence to exonerate him at trial. So I would expect more to come of this on appeal.
I have never heard of military prosecutors railroading someone through the courts and military judges with an agenda denying evidence to be presented at a trial
The story I read said they would not name the business and then did, and mentioned the trials of the three owners. Something about bribery!
Does he count as one of the 20% cuts to 4 stars?
I’m not sure his pension and rank are really at risk here. It reads like he was convicted in civilian court, not called back to active duty and court marshalled. Had it been a court marshal he could have been given a BCD, stripped of rank and pension. It remains to be seen if he will be fined so they can garnish his pension.
They could do an admin reduction in rank and grade to return him to the rank at which he last served successfully based upon the conviction. His retirement would then reflect that, but based upon high 3 his pay wouldn’t change.
Did the job include unrestricted access to a prestigious company owned 86 Jaguar?
Well, if the Admiral does any time in prison, he still can be called an Admiral if he washes pots and pan. Of course you have heard of Admiral of the Vessels.
I wonder if he’ll start naming names, or will he be epstiened before getting the chance.
What? No Fat Leonard involvement?
Somewhere Lori Benton is weeping.