He Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the worst corruption scandal in the service’s history, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in San Diego to 15 years in prison.

Leonard Glenn Francis, 60, will likely spend about eight and a half more years in federal prison considering the credit he will receive for time already spent in custody. He could serve even less if he qualifies for early release, although his lawyer warned the judge that a lengthy prison sentence would be “essentially a death sentence” for Francisco, who has dealt with serious health problems.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino also indicated she would order Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy, in addition to the $35 million he was previously ordered to forfeit as part of his plea deal. In addition, he ordered Francis’ Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, to pay a fine of $36 million.

Francisco, who has only said a few words in public hearing, somberly addressed the judge and asked for clemency so he could be reunited with his children.

“I sincerely regret my misconduct that has led me to this day,” Francisco said. “I ask for mercy, leniency and compassion from the court.”

In a markedly more humble tone compared to the arrogance and bravery he displayed in a podcast he secretly recorded in 2021, Francis called his actions “unforgivable and wrong,” referring to both the massive bribery scheme and his 2022 escape from house arrest just weeks before a previously scheduled sentencing.

He also credited Sammartino with saving the man’s life. release him on medical leave in 2018, saying it’s a miracle he’s still alive. “I have to thank Almighty God and the court for that,” Francisco said. Sammatino said he would recommend that Francis serve custody in a federal medical facility prison in North Carolina.

Francisco was arrested in late 2013 and pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States. GDMA, which contracted to supply goods and services to Navy ships for 25 years in ports across Asia, pleaded guilty to the same charges. Francisco also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a failure to appear charge related to his escape from custody in 2022.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Sheppard told the judge Tuesday that Francisco’s corruption scheme reached the “highest levels of the U.S. Navy… to a degree never before seen.” Sheppard said the 36 defendants charged in federal court were “just the tip of the iceberg.”