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Former FBI Agent Surrenders his Private Investigator's License Following His Conviction for
Lying, Revocation Proceedings by Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2004
SACRAMENTO — A former FBI agent convicted of lying about his relationship with an informant and accused spy has surrendered his private investigator's license to the Department of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).
James J. Smith operated the private investigations firm of James J. Smith and Associates in Westlake Village. In May 2004, Smith pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a felony count of making a false statement to a federal agency.
Smith was accused of concealing an improper relationship with an informant and accused double agent while working for the FBI. Following the criminal conviction, BSIS sought to revoke the private investigator's license Smith had held since 2002.
Under California law, the Department of Consumer Affairs can revoke a license if the licensee is convicted of a crime substantially related to the occupation or business for which the license is issued.
"California consumers have the right to expect that private investigators obey the law," said Charlene Zettel, Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
BSIS licenses security guards, private patrol operators, private investigators, alarm company operators, repossession agencies, and locksmiths, and certifies their training facilities and instructors. For more information about the Department of Consumer Affairs, call our Consumer Information Center at 800-952-5210 or visit our Web site at www.dca.ca.gov.
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