The City of Boston's tourism office director was arrested Thursday morning after a federal grand jury indicted him in connection with the extortion of a music festival production company," according to federal prosecutors.

Walsh: Brissette is a 'good and hardworking person'

Ken Brissette, 52, is scheduled to appear in federal court later Thursday, according to the office of US Attorney Carmen Ortiz. According to prosecutors, Brissette extorted a company that had already entered into a contract with a non-union company to provide workers for a September 2014 festival, to hire members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 11.

"It is alleged that between July and September 2014, while the company was awaiting the issuance of certain permits and approvals required for its music festival, Brissette, and at least one other city official, repeatedly advised the company that it would need to hire members of Local 11 to work at the music festival. Local 11 had attempted to obtain work from the company since March 2013," federal prosecutors wrote in a press release announcing the indictment.

"The company told Brissette that it had already entered into a contract with a non-union company and hired all of its labor. Nevertheless, Brissette allegedly insisted that half of the company's labor force consist of union members, although he ultimately agreed that eight members of Local 11 would suffice. As a result of Brissette's demands three days before the music festival the company entered into a contract with Local 11 for eight additional laborers and one foreman. Shortly thereafter, the City of Boston issued the necessary permits."

In April 2014, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh hired Brissette, the chief operating officer of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism as the city's new director of tourism, sports and entertainment. Brissette had worked at MOTT since 2007 and the Walsh administration credited Brissette for his work to bring major college lacrosse and basketball events to Massachusetts, as well as the National Governors Association conference and an annual gay and lesbian travel conference. The mayor charged Brissette with aggressively marketing the city nationally and internationally through the newly created post.