Retired US Navy admiral arrested in bribery scheme involving government contracts | News

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

The Justice Department alleges that the defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would leverage his position in the Navy to award a sole-source contract to the company in exchange for future employment.

Burke also allegedly promised to influence other Navy officers to award a substantial training contract to the company, valued at several million dollars, officials said.

He now faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, acts detrimental to his personal financial interests, and concealment of material facts from the United States. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

Kim and Messenger also face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery, which carry potential sentences of up to 20 years each, department officials said.

The government's investigation into these crimes, they added, is ongoing.