A retired four-star admiral, who was once the Navy’s second-highest ranking officer, was arrested Friday on charges he helped a company secure a government contract for a training program in exchange for lucrative employment within of the company.
Robert Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations, faces federal charges, including bribery and conspiracy, for what prosecutors say was a bribery scheme that led the company to the hire after retiring in 2022 with a starting annual salary of $500,000. He oversaw naval operations in Europe, Russia and most of Africa.
Also charged in the case are Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, who are co-chief executives of the company. The company is not named in court documents, but Kim and Messenger are listed as CEOs on the website of a company called NextJump, which offers training programs.
“The law makes no exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable,” said Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “The urgency is at its height when, as here, senior officials and senior executives are suspected of being involved in corruption cases. »
Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Fla., made his first appearance in Miami on Friday but did not enter a plea during the hearing, according to defense attorney Timothy Parlatore. The attorney said Burke will plead not guilty and intends to clear his name at trial.
“I think a jury will see clearly,” Parlatore said.
Burke conditionally retired from the Navy on July 31, 2022. Senior officers will often conditionally retire if administrative matters are pending.
Rear Admiral Ryan Perry said the Navy Department cooperated fully with the investigation.
“We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice,” Perry said in a statement.
Kim and Messenger’s company provided a pilot workforce training program to a Navy component from August 2018 to July 2019. The Navy ended the pilot program in late 2019 and ordered the company not to contact Burke.
But the two company executives arranged to meet with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021. During the meeting, Kim and Messenger proposed that Burke use his position in the Navy to offer them a contract in exchange for future employment with the company, according to the indictment. .
In December 2021, Burke directed his team to award a $355,000 contract to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain, according to the indictment. Burke started working at the company in October 2022.
Parlatore noted that the value of that contract was less than Burke’s starting salary.
“There was no connection between this contract and his employment.” said Parlatore. “The math just doesn’t make sense that he’s giving them this relatively small contract for this type of job offer.”
___
Associated Press writer Lolita C in Baldor, Washington, contributed to this report.
NBC Chicago
