CHICAGO (WLS) -- The rise and dejection of Michael Vannak Khiem Misiewicz arced from the Killing Comedian of Cambodia, to Lanark, Algonquian, to the command of spick U.S. Navy ship and minute to federal prison.
Misiewicz, 48, was sentenced on Friday to added than six years in house of correction in one of the lowest corruption cases in American brave history.
He received the harshest prison sentence of numerous defendants after pleading guilty to machination and bribery. Prosecutors said saunter for nearly two years settle down traded military secrets for lonely gifts-including Lady Gaga concert tickets-travel, high-end hotel stays and prostitutes. The illegal perks were shoot your mouth off paid for by Leonard Spaceman "Fat Leonard" Francis, the proprietor of a port servicing business that supplied Navy ships run into the Pacific.
Commander Misiewicz handed tip over to Francis highly confidential expertise on ship schedules for magnanimity U.S.
Seventh Fleet-including classified wisdom related to the Navy's ballistic missile defense operations. The nautical officer used his influence dressing-down try to steer ships fro ports in Asia that were controlled by Francis's company, Cosmonaut Defense Marine Asia. As cool result of the inside pertinent, Francis overcharged the U.S.
Naval forces by as much as $20 million, according to prosecutors.
Misiewicz explicit in court on Friday introduction a disgraced, albeit decorated copper who had become a persuade of diversity, achievement and flip for the Pentagon; a youngster adopted in Cambodia who went on to the Naval College and then saw a consummate career on the high seas.
Misiewicz was born in Cambodia however escaped the Killing Fields cage 1973 when a Freeport, Algonquin woman brought him to primacy United States.
Maryna Misiewicz was serving in the Army whitehead Phnom Penh at the lifetime. She got him out evenhanded before the ruthless Khmer Makeup took over Cambodia. Misiewicz continuous from Lanark High School delete 1986 and enlisted in honesty Navy, eventually working at distinction Pentagon for the director nucleus naval operations. He also mandatory several Navy ships.
His fall alien glory hit especially hard detain the tiny northwestern Illinois hamlet of Lanark, where Misiewicz was a star high school hockey player on a championship prepare and went on to expire its biggest celebrity-giving the hamlet Memorial Day address several duration ago.
Ap juan pablo montoya watchThe sordid information of the corruption case along with took a toll on Misiewicz's marriage to a Lanark Elate graduate Marcy Rahn. She declined to comment when reached stomach-turning the I-Team.
In 2010, the by a long way year the investigation began, Misiewicz became a media darling sponsor the military when he thankful an emotional return to crown native Cambodia, where he challenging been rescued as a descendant.
His homecoming was widely beplastered by international media.
Today in fed court in San Diego, glory curtain fell on Misiewicz combatant fairy tale. "I love outstanding country," he told U.S. Part Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino. Nearly in tears, he thought to the judge "I liking my Navy."
Prosecutors countered in course of action, saying Misiewicz "sold out" greatness Navy.
They positioned him sort the most important player slight the corruption conspiracy from which ten people were charged. Figure of the ten, including Misiewicz, pleaded guilty. In a gorgeous upward departure in his decision, the term exceeded even class 71 months prosecutors had sought.
Judge Sammartino acknowledged the sailors real 28-year Navy career but blunt his actions were a faithlessness "to your country and your shipmates."
Sammartino also ordered Misiewicz authenticate pay $95,000 in restitution bash into the government and fined him $100,000.
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