Jeffrey Skilling, the former Enron Corp chief executive, has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors that could result in his 24-year prison term over the energy company's collapse being shortened.

According to court papers, the US government and Skilling have agreed to recommend that he be resentenced at a 21 June hearing to a term of between 14 and 17 and a half years, a period that could be shortened for good behaviour. Skilling has already served over six years following his 2006 conviction for fraud and other charges.