Kenneth W. Kaiser, the former head of the Boston FBI office, could escape jail time if he pleads guilty to an ethics violation.

Recently disclosed  plea agreement terms between the government and Kaiser would have him pay a $15,000 fine and avoid a prison sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor offense, reports Boston.com.

Kaiser originally faced a fine of up to $100,000 fine and a one-year jail sentence for engaging in prohibited contacts.

Kaiser, 57, is alleged to have contacted former colleagues within a year of retiring from the FBI — actions banned by federal law.

Kaiser joined LocatePlus in Beverly — a seller of investigative databases — as a consultant on July 3, 2009, the same day he left the FBI, according to prosecutors. Once hired, Kaiser was ordered to conduct a probe of two former LocatePlus executives, CEO Jon Latorella and CFO James T. Fields.

Just 17 days after starting work at LocatePlus, Kaiser allegedly started having various prohibited phone, in-person, and electronic contacts with FBI employees regarding the bureau’s investigative matters. He also reportedly contacted feds to gauge interest in LocatePlus products and services.

In March 2010, Kaiser was named the company’s Director of Government Sales.

In August 2009, after being hired by a Massachusetts executive who had received a threatening letter in the mail, Kaiser allegedly contacted the Boston FBI office.

Since Kaiser quickly accepted responsibility, federal prosecutors — based in Connecticut in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest –agreed to reduce his offense level, Boston.com reports.

He is scheduled to plead guilty Oct. 3.

 

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