The going rates of FBI informants

Willis was arrested the first time in February 2001. He bought a house in Harbor Town in May 2001. This was a big expense, so the FBI paid him to "keep the lights on".

"Six thousand dollars covered everything," says Burns. "...I didn't go down very thoroughly to see what all his expenses were."

Burns says they paid him the salary, but didn't monitor where Willis spent the money. It could have gone on his mortgage, food, gas or anything else.

"I wouldn't say it's his job," says Burns. "He needed to be available whenever we needed him."

But according to Burns, Willis still could have taken another job. He could do anything he wanted as long as he made the FBI aware of what he was doing.

In the meantime, Willis was busy recording conversations for the FBI before E-Cycle was even approved. Burns says the "higher ups" were aware of what was going on. The proposal was finally approved sometime in February 2004 - either 2-2 or 2-11 says Burns.

The first year Willis earned $34,000 working for the FBI. In 2004, Willis made $77,000, not including the $16,000 of expenses that he incurred eating at restaurants and staying at hotels.