THE US Marshal Service (USMS) has placed a bounty of US$40,000 (RM180,000) on any information leading to the arrest of Leonard Glenn Francis, or ‘Fat Leonard’.

“The USMS is offering a reward of up to US$40,000 for information leading to the arrest of Leonard Francis, also known as ‘Fat Leonard’.

“Francis is wanted for violating the conditions of his pretrial release. He was convicted of bribing naval officials,” the USMS San Diego office said on its Twitter feed.

On Tuesday, supervisory deputy US Marshal Omar Castillo revealed that Francis, reportedly sawed off his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet on Sunday morning and fled his home.

“He was planning this out, that’s for sure,” Castillo was quoted as saying.

Neighbours have also reportedly claimed to see moving trucks in and out of Francis’ home over the past few days.

Francis is due to be sentenced on September 22.

San Diego police found his house empty, with the US Marshals Office subsequently notified.

The San Diego regional fugitive task force was activated and a high-profile manhunt was initiated, it was reported.

Law enforcement agencies are now on the lookout for Francis, and alerts placed at international ports and borders, Castillo reportedly said.

However, he added that Francis may have already crossed into Mexico.

In 2015, Francis admitted to plying officers with cash, alcohol, prostitutes and other perks to ensure US Navy ships stopped at ports from which his firm Glenn Defence Marine Asia operated.

Twelve US Navy officers pleaded guilty in the US to charges relating to their roles in the scandal, with nine of them sentenced to various prison terms and fines.

According to US prosecutors, Francis had picked up the tab on widespread debauchery, including a May 2008 “raging multi-day party, with a rotating carousel of prostitutes, during which the conspirators drank all of the Dom Perignon available at the Shangri-La” hotel in Manila, at a cost of more than US$50,000.

In one port visit by the USS Blue Ridge in 2007, historical memorabilia in the MacArthur Suite at the Manila Hotel related to legendary US General Douglas MacArthur “were used by the participants in sexual acts”. – September 10, 2022.