Michael Kunzelman And Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press
14 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A retired four-star admiral who once held the Navy's second-highest rank was arrested Friday on charges he helped secure a government contract for a training program in exchange for a high-paying job with a company.
Robert Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations, faces federal charges including bribery and conspiracy that prosecutors allege were part of a fraudulent scheme that led the company to hire him for $500,000 a year after he retires in 2022. He oversaw naval operations in Europe, Russia and much of Africa.
The company's co-chief executives, Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Megan Messenger, are also charged in the case. The company is not named in court documents, but the website of the training program company, NextJump, lists both Kim and Messenger as CEOs.
“The law makes no exceptions for admirals or CEOs, and those who pay or accept bribes must be held accountable,” said Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “The urgency is greatest where, as in this case, senior government officials and executives are suspected of engaging in corrupt practices.”
Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, made his initial court appearance in Miami on Friday but did not enter a plea during the hearing, said his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, who said Burke will plead not guilty and intends to clear his name at trial.
“I think a jury will see through this,” Parlatore said.
Burke was conditionally discharged from the Navy on July 31, 2022. Senior officers often receive conditional retirements while administrative matters remain unresolved.
Rear Adm. Ryan Perry said the Navy Department was cooperating fully with the investigation.
“We take this matter very seriously and will continue to work with the Department of Justice,” Perry said in a statement.
Kim and Messenger's company ran a talent training pilot program for a branch of the Navy from August 2018 to July 2019. The Navy ended the pilot program in late 2019 and told the company not to contact Burke.
However, the two company executives had arranged to meet with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021. During the meeting, Kim and Messenger suggested Burke use his Navy status to secure a contract in exchange for future employment with the company, according to the indictment.
According to the indictment, Burke directed staff to enter into a $355,000 contract in December 2021 to train personnel under Burke's command in Italy and Spain. Burke began working for the company in October 2022.
Parlatore noted that the contract amount is less than Burke's starting salary.
“This contract has nothing to do with his employment,” Parlatore said. “The math just doesn't make sense for him to take a relatively small contract for a job offer like that.”
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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
