NORFOLK, Va. — A former Vice Chief of Naval Operations faces up to 30 years in prison.
The Justice Department alleges that retired Admiral Robert Burke participated in a bribery scheme from 2020 to 2022, while he was serving as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
Burke is charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. Additionally, Burke faces charges of performing acts of a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States.
Burke served prior assignments in Hampton Roads on the staff of Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet and United States Fleet Forces Command.
Also charged in the case are Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, both of New York. They are the co-CEOs of a company that provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019.
The Justice Department said Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to the company to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain "in exchange for future employment at the company."
A Justice Department news release said that in October 2022, Burke began working at the company at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.