A federal jury in Washington, D.C., on Monday acquitted two business executives of charges that they conspired to bribe a retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral who is now serving a six-year prison sentence for his own corruption conviction. The verdict handed Next Jump co-CEOs Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger a complete legal victory on charges that included conspiracy and bribery, according to court records.
The case centered on prosecutors’ allegations that Kim and Messenger bribed retired Adm. Robert P. Burke for a lucrative military contract in exchange for a well-paying postretirement job. Burke, who was once the second-highest uniformed officer in the Navy and commanded its forces in Europe and Africa, was accused of engaging in the alleged plot while still in uniform. Prosecutors claimed the two executives agreed to pay Burke a $500,000 salary with stock options projected to be worth millions of dollars. In exchange, they alleged, Burke ordered his staff to award a contract to Next Jump and promoted the company’s product to other senior Navy commanders.
The acquittal marks the second time prosecutors have failed to win a conviction against the two executives. An earlier trial ended last year with a hung jury and a mistrial. The retrial concluded Monday with a jury finding them not guilty on all counts.
Burke was convicted separately on corruption charges and is currently serving a six-year federal prison sentence. The acquittal of Kim and Messenger does not affect Burke’s conviction or sentence.