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Francis was arrested in a San Diego hotel nearly a decade ago as part of a federal sting operation. Investigators say he bilked the US military out of more than US$35 million by buying off dozens of top-ranking Navy officers with booze, sex, lavish parties and other gifts.
The scandal led to the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defence contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges.
Investigators say that Francis, who owned and operated his family’s ship-servicing business, abused his position as a key contact for US Navy shops at ports across Asia, wooing naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.
He pleaded guilty in 2015 and was allowed to stay out of jail at a rental home on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and security guards.
But weeks before he faced sentencing in September 2022, Francis made a daring escape as he cut off his ankle monitor and disappeared. Officials said he fled to Mexico, made his way to Cuba and eventually got to Venezuela.
He was arrested a couple of weeks later before boarding a flight at the Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.
He had been in custody in Venezuela ever since, and officials said he sought asylum there.
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