A high-ranking retired Navy admiral has been found guilty of accepting a lucrative private-sector job in exchange for steering government contracts to a company—marking a serious betrayal of public trust at the highest levels of military leadership.
Admiral Robert Burke, once a four-star admiral overseeing U.S. Navy operations across Europe, Russia, and Africa, was convicted this week by a federal jury on multiple charges, including bribery, conspiracy, and concealing information from the U.S. government.
The 62-year-old from Coconut Creek, Florida, now faces sentencing on August 22, 2025, after a five-day trial in Washington, D.C. Federal Judge Trevor McFadden presided over the case.
According to prosecutors, the scheme revolved around Company A, co-led by Burke’s co-defendants, Kim and Messenger. Between 2018 and 2019, the company had developed a Navy workforce training pilot—but after concerns arose, the Navy ended its contract and told the firm to stop contacting Burke.
But in July 2021, the company’s executives ignored that directive and met with Burke in Washington, D.C. During that meeting, they allegedly struck a deal: Burke would help secure a new multimillion-dollar contract for Company A in return for a high-paying job after retirement.
By December 2021, Burke ordered a $355,000 training contract for Company A in Italy and Spain—training that was completed the following month. He then pushed for the company to receive even larger contracts, but those efforts failed.
Despite Navy ethics rules, Burke lied on disclosure forms and falsely claimed he hadn’t started job talks with Company A until months after the contract was issued.
In October 2022, after leaving the Navy, Burke officially joined the company as an executive—receiving 100,000 stock options and a $500,000 annual salary.
“This was a clear abuse of power,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “When you betray the public’s trust to line your own pockets, there are consequences—no matter your rank or title.”
The investigation was led by the FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). Prosecutors emphasized the case as a warning against corruption in high places, especially among those entrusted with public service.
Admiral Burke’s conviction sends a strong message: even the highest-ranking military leaders will be held accountable when they put personal gain above duty.
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