It was the perfect crime.
Three crooked judges were doing time in a federal prison. They called themselves The Brethren and unofficially handled inmate disputes within the fences. They needed to earn some income for their eventual release so they began placing tiny ads in the back of magazines:
SWM in 20's looking for kind and discreet gentleman in 40's or 50's to pen pal with.
When the letters came in, they were screened to see if any respondents were wealthy. Those that qualified received a letter from one of the judges. The supposed author was a good-looking young man on the verge of completing drug rehab. The judges conned the pen pals in to thinking the young man was eager to meet and start a relationship.
Correspondence continued until the judges could get the true identity of the pen pal. Their crooked lawyer on the outside provided assistance. Once the pen pal's true identity was confirmed, an extortion letter was sent. The pen pals were usually wealthy, prominent, married men with a lot to lose if their secrets were revealed. The letters from The Brethren asked for X dollars in return for not outing the pen pal. When the money was received, it was deposited off shore for future use of the judges.
The scheme could go in continually, since the wealthy men couldn't report the crime. Doing so would out them and ruin their families as well.
The Brethren cast a wide net, conning men across the country. This would prove to be the beginning of the end. You see, the judges conned the wrong man, and now the government is watchingready to con The Brethren in return.
It started out as the perfect crime, but how will it end? Every involved party has a great deal to lose, including the con men and the government officials themselves. When all is said and done, will there be a winner?
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