There are two reasons why I would never believe Big Apple would set this up. Reason 1 - it's too easy to trace back to its source. Besides, the scam was so poorly orchestrated, wouldn't you have assumed that if Big Apple did it they would have done a better job? This story had to have a sad ending. No other ending was possible. It was only a matter of time before this blew up.
Reason 2 - If Big Apple was the mastermind behind this, their business would efectively be over. They may not be the swiftest group of people, but they aren't that stupid as to throw their entire business away for a few million dollars. The legal fees in defending themselves would consume virtually all they would make.
So I ruled Big Apple as a co-conspirator almost immediately. I'm positive that they were as shocked as the rest of us to see the Federal indictment. When clients are arrested, it's not good for business. But being arrested yourself for being part of a conspiracy to commit fraud and trying to pin it on your client is a lot worse. The Feds would have nailed them in a heartbeat. It just doesn't make any sense for them to have been a party to the crime.
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