Retired four-star Admiral Robert P. Burke, former vice chief of naval operations and commander of naval forces for Europe and Africa, was arrested Friday on federal bribery charges.
Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, is accused of awarding a sole-source contract in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job and stock options, according to the Justice Department.
Burke, along with Yongchul “Charlie” Kim, 50, and Meghan Messenger, 47, the founders of the New York-based technology services firm Next Jump, face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery, which carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
Burke also faces additional charges of performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts, which could result in up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The indictment details that Burke, Kim, and Messenger orchestrated the bribery scheme in 2021. Kim and Messenger allegedly met with Burke in Washington, D.C., where they agreed that Burke would use his position to steer a Navy contract to Next Jump in return for future employment at the company. The contract in question, valued at $355,000, was awarded in December 2021 to provide training for naval personnel in Italy and Spain.
Prosecutors allege that Burke promoted the company to other senior Navy officials in an attempt to secure another lucrative contract, which Kim valued in the “triple-digit millions.”
To conceal the scheme, Burke is accused of making false statements to the Navy, implying that his employment discussions with Next Jump began months after the contract was awarded.
Burke began his position at Next Jump in October 2022, with a starting salary of $500,000 and 100,000 stock options. Next Jump had previously announced Burke’s hiring on social media, aligning with the allegations in the indictment.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “As alleged in the indictment, Admiral Burke used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain. The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs.”
Federal law enforcement and military officials underscored their commitment to eradicating fraud within the Department of Defense. The investigation is being conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FBI.
Burke’s career in the Navy spanned several decades, with his final roles including oversight of naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa. Prior to his retirement in 2022, Burke served as the 40th vice chief of naval operations from June 2019 to June 2020.
Neither Burke, Kim, Messenger, nor their representatives could be reached for immediate comment. Court records in South Florida and Manhattan did not identify attorneys for the defendants. Next Jump did not respond to a request for comment.
This case marks a rare instance of a high-ranking military officer facing federal criminal charges.
If convicted, Burke could become only the second U.S. admiral found guilty of committing a federal crime while on active duty, following Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau, who pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges nine years ago.
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