Mastermind of Navy bribery scheme escapes house arrest just weeks ahead of sentencing

[Tony]

(CNN)Leonard Francis, the former military contractor known as "Fat Leonard" who orchestrated the largest corruption scandal in US Navy history, is on the run after escaping house arrest in San Diego by cutting off his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet, according to the US Marshals Service.

The escape comes just three weeks before his sentencing.
The federal agency monitoring Francis' house arrest, Pretrial Services, called the San Diego Police Department on Sunday to check on him, Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Omar Castillo told CNN. When police discovered Francis' home empty, they contacted the US Marshals, Castillo said.