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A retired Navy captain who lives in Kailua was indicted on federal charges Thursday that he received at least $145,000 in bribes from foreign defense contractor Leonard Francis, who plied him with expensive parties at luxury hotels, prostitutes, alcohol and food, the Justice Department said. Read more

A retired Navy captain who lives in Kailua was indicted on federal charges Thursday that he received at least $145,000 in bribes from foreign defense contractor Leonard Francis, who plied him with expensive parties at luxury hotels, prostitutes, alcohol and food, the Justice Department said.

David W. Haas, 50, is the latest former or current Navy official with Hawaii ties to be ensnared in the wide-ranging “Fat Leonard” bribery and fraud scandal, which the Navy said cost taxpayers in excess of $34.8 million.

Francis, a 350-pound defense contractor and Malaysian national, pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribery and fraud charges over the decade­-long conspiracy involving his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which provided ship services to the Navy in Southeast Asia.

According to the indictment, Haas used his influence to steer ships to Glenn Defense-controlled ports and otherwise advance Francis’ interests.

Dozens of former Navy officers and others have been charged in the scheme the Justice Department called a fleecing and betrayal of “epic proportions.” The bribery amounted to a “staggering degree of corruption” by some of the most prominent Navy leaders in the Western Pacific.

To date, 32 defendants have been charged, and 20 have pleaded guilty.

Haas was highlighted by the Navy for his entry in the 2009 Ironman in Kona while on active duty, noting the training challenges he faced as commander of the frigate USS Thach.

According to his LinkedIn page, Haas since 2017 has been a Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinating officer in Hawaii and “directly leads and coordinates timely delivery of all federal disaster assistance to support state and local governments.”

His page said he retired from the Navy in 2016 after 30 years.

“FEMA is aware of the grand jury indictment against Mr. David Haas,” spokeswoman Brandi Richard said Friday afternoon. “The agency takes all charges and allegations of misconduct extremely seriously. However, as with any personnel matter, we cannot comment further at this time.”

Richard said she could not discuss Haas’ position with FEMA.

The commander of the Navy’s Coastal Riverine Group 1 in San Diego in 2013 suspended Haas from his duties as deputy commander, according to a Navy release.

“The decision to reassign Haas was made based upon allegations in connection with an ongoing Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into Glenn Defense marine,” the Navy said at the time.

Neither Haas nor his San Diego-based attorney could be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

According to the Justice Department:

>> On Nov. 5, 2011, while Haas was director of maritime operations for the 7th Fleet staff aboard the USS Blue Ridge, Francis took Haas and others to dinner at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo and provided them with prostitutes at a cost of more than $20,000.

>> On May 11-15, 2012, Francis paid for rooms at the Shangri-La in Jakarta, Indonesia, plus dinner, entertainment at a nightclub, alcohol and prostitutes for Haas and others.

>> On June 29-30, 2012, in Tokyo, Francis paid for a two-day party for Haas and others including transportation, dinner at Nobu Restaurant and entertainment at several hostess clubs where the services of prostitutes were provided, at a cost of more than $75,000.

>> On Nov. 30, 2012, Francis provided a car and driver for Haas and his subordinate and co-conspirator Cmdr. Michael Misiewicz from Yokosuka, Japan, to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo, where Francis was staying. In Francis’ room, with Haas present, Misiewicz handed Francis an envelope of classified long-range 7th Fleet ship schedules and 7th Fleet organization charts. The schedules were stamped “secret” and projected ship visits approximately 14 months in advance. The classified schedules included information related to the U.S. Navy ballistic missile defense operations in the Pacific.

Misiewicz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiracy and bribery in April 2016, the Justice Department said.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the southern district of California, which announced the indictment, Haas faces up to 20 years in prison on a charge of conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud, as well as charges of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery.

Two other retired Navy members also were indicted in the bribery and fraud scandal. Former Master Chief Petty Officer Ricarte Icmat David, 61, lives in Tarlac province, Philippines; and former Chief Petty Officer Brooks Alonzo Parks, 46, lives in Naples, Italy, the Justice Department said.