Retired US Navy admiral arrested for bribery related to government contracts

Retired Navy four-star admiral Robert Burke was arrested Friday for his alleged involvement in a bribery scheme that ran from 2020 to 2022.

The 62-year-old former commander of the U.S. Marine Forces in Europe and Africa is accused of attempting to secure government contracts in exchange for future employment, the Justice Department said.

According to an indictment unsealed Friday, Burke met with Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of an unnamed company, in 2021.

The Justice Department alleges that the defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position in the Navy to give the company exclusive contract in exchange for future employment.

Burke also promised to influence other naval officers to award the company a major training contract worth “hundreds of millions,” officials said.

He is now accused of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, acting to the detriment of personal financial interests and concealing material facts from the United States. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Kim and Messenger also face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and corruption, each facing prison sentences of up to 20 years, agency officials said.

They added that the government-led investigation into these crimes is still ongoing.