Retired Navy Admiral Robert Burke Convicted in Federal Bribery Case
Former Four-Star Admiral Found Guilty of Steering Navy Contract in Exchange for $500K Job Offer
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was found guilty on multiple federal charges, including bribery and conspiracy, for awarding a Navy contract in exchange for a future high-paying private sector position. The verdict was delivered by a federal jury on May 17, 2025, following a five-day trial in Washington, D.C.
Burke, a former four-star admiral who once led U.S. naval operations across Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, was convicted of:
Conspiracy to commit bribery
Bribery of a public official
Acts affecting a personal financial interest
Concealing material facts from the United States government
U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden presided over the case and scheduled Burke’s sentencing for August 22, 2025.
Prosecutors Detail Quid Pro Quo Scheme
According to trial evidence and court documents, Burke conspired with two private defense contractors — identified in court as Kim and Messenger, co-CEOs of a government vendor referred to as Company A. The company had previously operated under a limited contract with the Navy from August 2018 to July 2019, which was terminated in late 2019. Following the termination, the Navy explicitly barred Company A from contacting Burke.
Nonetheless, in July 2021, the two executives met with Burke in Washington, D.C., to restart their business relationship with the Navy. During this meeting, the parties struck an agreement: Burke would use his influence to secure a new Navy contract for Company A, and in return, he would receive a future executive position at the company.
Burke also pledged to influence other senior Navy leaders to award an even larger contract to Company A — one that one co-defendant estimated could be worth in the “triple-digit millions.”
In December 2021, Burke ordered a $355,000 contract to be awarded to Company A to provide training to Navy personnel in Italy and Spain, which was carried out the following month. Burke later unsuccessfully lobbied another senior admiral to grant the company additional business.
To hide the corruption, Burke falsely stated that job discussions with the company only began after the contract was issued and failed to disclose the truth on mandatory ethics forms required of federal officials.
High-Paying Job Followed Months Later
In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A under a lucrative employment package that included a $500,000 annual salary and 100,000 stock options.
Justice Department Responds
The verdict was announced by a coalition of top federal officials and investigative agencies, including:
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
Greg Gross, Special Agent in Charge, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
Steven J. Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office
Stanley Newell, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)
“When you abuse your position and betray the public trust to line your own pockets, it undermines the confidence in the government you represent,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Our office, with our law enforcement partners, will root out corruption – be it bribes or illegal contracts – and hold accountable the perpetrators, no matter what title or rank they hold.”
The case was jointly investigated by DCIS, NCIS, and the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross, along with Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Kathryn E. Fifield of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein led the original investigation and secured the indictment.
The conviction underscores a strong federal commitment to combatting corruption within the military and government contracting, regardless of an official’s status or service history.