All the elements of an exciting spy thriller were present: beautiful women, luxury travel, first class accommodations and of course money. Lots of money. All in exchange for confidential and sometimes classified information. The difference is that that this scenario was not projected on the big screen. It played out in real life.

The accused: United States Navy commander Jose Luis Sanchez, 42 years old and one of several military members tied to the case, but he is the highest ranking official to get caught. Commander Sanchez pleaded guilty earlier this week for participating in a massive exchange of money-for-information between parties in the United States Navy and a military contractor in Asia who has a long history of working with military.

Charges were first filed back in 2013 and signaled another blow to the U.S. Navy, which has had its credibility knocked down a peg several times over the years for misconduct and other offenses. Sanchez, for his part, could be subjected to at least 20 years behind bars when sentencing takes place in late March of this year.

Until the gavel sounds however, Sanchez will continue wearing his Navy uniform and reporting for work at his port of call in San Diego. Assistant United States attorney Robert Huie, according to a UPI news article, confirmed that Sanchez admitted accepting large sums of money, enjoying himself in top-of-the-line hotels and even frequenting prostitutes during a four-year period as he recounted his activities point-by-point in a 24-page plea agreement.

The root of the problem for Sanchez involved accepting money for directing Navy business to Mr. Leonard Glenn Francis, chief executive of Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd,  a company based in Singapore that provides a range of  services to naval and other vessels.

The plot thickens: power-brokers and even military types know that Francis is better known as “Fat Leonard” and has serviced Navy ships for more than two decades. Prosecutors say Francis allegedly bought privileged information from Sanchez and others that allowed his company to over-bill the Navy by at least $20 million for port services in Asia.

Francis was arrested in September 2013 and subsequently entered a plea of not guilty with prosecutors.
Commander Sanchez on the other hand is one of four United States Navy members currently charged. Prior to being reassigned to Tampa, Florida in 2013, Sanchez spent time in Singapore and Japan.

Prosecutors working the case alleged that he took $100,000 in cash, plane tickets and prostitution for information on Navy shipping schedules and other confidential and classified information.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Sanchez’s attorney, Vincent Ward, remarked that Sanchez would remain free on bond and was granted permission by the judge to not use a monitoring device to track his where-abouts.

At this point in the case, Sanchez is one of several individuals to plead guilty and the second Navy official to be involved. Navy Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz pleaded not guilty regarding involvement in the case while Petty Officer Daniel Layug (who admitted that he provided classified shipping schedules and other internal Navy information) pleaded guilty in May.