Surveillance Pioneer Turned Whistleblower Unmasks FBI Corruption in New Tell-All Memoir

Martin L. Kaiser III reveals the real-life story that inspired the blockbuster movie "Enemy of the State"

COCKEYSVILLE, Md. , Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a pioneer in the surveillance industry, Martin L. Kaiser III worked closely with the United States Government, supplying high-tech eavesdropping and counter-surveillance devices to agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and military intelligence divisions. However, the business relationship quickly soured when he revealed evidence of procurement fraud and corruption within the FBI. In his new autobiographical exposé, "Help Yourself!...a Story of FBI Corruption," he shares his rise as a trusted supplier to intelligence agencies, the scandal he uncovered, and the long-term consequences of challenging the federal government.

In the early 1970s, Kaiser discovered irregularities in the FBI's purchasing system. He testified before the House Select Committee on Intelligence that the Bureau was using a front company, U.S. Recording Company (USRC), to procure equipment at artificially inflated prices, stating that USRC purchased his devices at standard rates, marked them up between 12% and 280%, and then resold them to the FBI, profiting from the inflated costs.

"As soon as I exposed the network of fraud within the FBI I experienced almost immediate retaliation," Kaiser said. "My contracts with federal agencies were suddenly canceled which caused my business revenue to nosedive. FBI agents attempted to pressure me into recanting my testimony, and fraudulent lawsuits and criminal charges were levied against me that were based on falsified or manipulated evidence."

As a result of Kaiser's testimony and subsequent scandals, the Department of Justice launched an internal investigation into the FBI's procurement practices. The findings led to the discontinuation of the USRC as a front company, stricter procurement regulations and audit trails, and legal instruction and ethics training for FBI agents to prevent similar abuses in the future. However, these reforms provided little relief to Kaiser, who remained blacklisted from government contracts.

Despite these hardships, his story became an inspiration for Hollywood films, including "Enemy of the State," in which he worked as part of the production team and as a surveillance advisor. Ultimately, Kaiser's story serves as both a personal account and a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power within the intelligence community.

"Help Yourself!...a Story of FBI Corruption"
By Martin L. Kaiser III
ISBN: 9781698717616 (softcover); 9781698717630 (hardcover); 9781698717623 (electronic)
Available at Trafford Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author
Martin L. Kaiser III is a pioneering surveillance expert and entrepreneur who supplied advanced eavesdropping and bomb detection technology to U.S. intelligence agencies. Known as a real-life "Q" from James Bond, he became a government target after exposing FBI procurement corruption in 1975. Despite being acquitted of fabricated charges, he faced relentless retaliation, legal battles, and financial ruin, ultimately closing his business in 2009. Kaiser has previously published "Odyssey of an Eavesdropper." His most recent book, "Help Yourself!...A Story of FBI Corruption," reveals the dangers of government overreach and the high cost of whistleblowing. To learn more, please visit www.martykaiser.com.

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SOURCE Trafford Publishing