That, Scad, is the question of the day!
I have no clue - it is mindboggling. Unless I am mistaken, the Talon sting operation was originally set up for another sting - and didn't that also result in a lack of convictions for the most part?
"The government has aptly described this business as being an enterprise which included a group of imaginary products and services, located in various imaginary locations ..." USA vs Jim Bolt, 1985