Hookers and Bribery, Oh My: Sordid Navy Scandal Widens

Two high-ranking naval officers have now been implicated in a crazy bribery scandal that involves prostitutes, luxury vacations, and even Lady Gaga tickets, reports Time. The broad strokes of the allegations are that Navy insiders directed ships in the Asia-Pacific region to dock at specific ports so a Navy contractor could then overcharge for services by millions of dollars. In exchange, the contractor provided the Navy officials with luxury vacations, access to prostitutes, and, in one case, tickets to a Gaga concert.

The first officer arrested was Cmdr. Michael Misiewicz, who worked with the US 7th Fleet, reports Stars and Stripes. The second came yesterday when Capt. Daniel Dusek was relieved of his command of the assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard. Also arrested are John Bertrand Beliveau, an agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Leonard Francis, chief executive of Navy contractor GMDA. Cringe-worthy tidbit: Francis referred to a group of prostitutes in Thailand as Misiewicz's "Elite Thai SEAL Team." (Meanwhile, another high-ranking Navy official is in hot water reportedly because of gambling.)