Arne Fuglvog is scheduled to appear before a federal judge today in Anchorage.

The former Murkowski staffer is slated to plead guilty to a misdemeanor for falsifying his fishing records and taking in $100,000 in extra income from illegal fishing near Yakutat in 2005. During that time, he also served on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which helps oversee Alaska’s fisheries.

Fuglvog resigned from his position in Murkowski’s office last week. He was her primary adviser on fisheries issues, and he was also once a top contender to lead the National Marine Fisheries Service. Murkowski has said that she was unaware of the charge until recently.

Fuglvog has been working on a plea bargain since April. If that deal is accepted by the federal judge hearing his case, he would have to spend 10 months in prison and pay a $50,000 fine. He would also have to give $100,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and admit to wrongdoing in a letter published in National Fisherman magazine.