Leonard 'Fat Leonard' Francis returning to US custody, US frees close ally of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro

The return of convicted defence contractor Leonard "Fat Leonard" Francis to US custody as part of a Venezuelan prisoner swap is the latest twist in a decade-long salacious saga and bribery scheme that swept up dozens of American navy officers. Key points: Francis wooed US naval officers and in exchange they concealed him overcharging for supplying ships or charging for fake services at ports he controlled He escaped from the US before his sentencing in 2022 and has been in custody in Venezuela The US freed a close ally of President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and for Francis's return One of the biggest bribery investigations in US military history led to the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen navy officials, defence contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges. Former Navy officer avoids jail over bribery case Photo shows A graphic showing Alex Gillett and Leonard Francis with excerpts from the US indictment behind. On Wednesday, the US freed Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in Venezuela and for Francis's return.