Alan Goldberg

Congratulations. So we were just there, part of the scenery, if you will.

Congratulations. So we were just there, part of the scenery, if you will.

It was easy for us to basically pose as a television crew. We were just part of the whole affair, right? And fortunately, nobody ever asked us, you know, who are you? That was always, that was kind of an ethical issue for us that we discussed before we went down. Like if somebody actually asked us upfront, who are we with? What were we going to say? There was a video screen. There was a U.S.

It was easy for us to basically pose as a television crew. We were just part of the whole affair, right? And fortunately, nobody ever asked us, you know, who are you? That was always, that was kind of an ethical issue for us that we discussed before we went down. Like if somebody actually asked us upfront, who are we with? What were we going to say? There was a video screen. There was a U.S.

Marshal who was in a tuxedo.

Marshal who was in a tuxedo.

there was a code word that we have a surprise for you. And when the SWAT teams in the background heard the key word, that's when they, you know, opened the doors and actually surprised them.

there was a code word that we have a surprise for you. And when the SWAT teams in the background heard the key word, that's when they, you know, opened the doors and actually surprised them.

And then when they, you know, picked them up and took them out into the hall and threw them down to the ground and handcuffed them, they realized, all right, this was, you know, this is something else. This was clearly a sting.

And then when they, you know, picked them up and took them out into the hall and threw them down to the ground and handcuffed them, they realized, all right, this was, you know, this is something else. This was clearly a sting.

The head of the U.S. Marshal Service, the director is a guy named Stanley Morris, and he announced to the media that they had this very successful sting operation and had in fact captured two top ten fugitives. But then, Alan Goldberg started to look at what they'd taped that day. What happens after any story is you go back and you review all of the footage.

The head of the U.S. Marshal Service, the director is a guy named Stanley Morris, and he announced to the media that they had this very successful sting operation and had in fact captured two top ten fugitives. But then, Alan Goldberg started to look at what they'd taped that day. What happens after any story is you go back and you review all of the footage.

So while it all looked great, the truth was that it wasn't quite what they made it out to be.

So while it all looked great, the truth was that it wasn't quite what they made it out to be.

And as we learned more and more about what happened that day, it became clear that while the marshals had trumpeted this sting operation as a huge success, that the results of the sting were not what they seemed.

And as we learned more and more about what happened that day, it became clear that while the marshals had trumpeted this sting operation as a huge success, that the results of the sting were not what they seemed.

This is a pretty big deal and a lot of trouble just to catch a lot of small fish. And I think for them to make as big a deal out of it wasn't completely honest. Because, again, when you're talking about parking violations and other minor offenses, to be thrown to the ground and handcuffed and treated in that fashion, it does seem certainly excessive and I think you could argue unfair.

This is a pretty big deal and a lot of trouble just to catch a lot of small fish. And I think for them to make as big a deal out of it wasn't completely honest. Because, again, when you're talking about parking violations and other minor offenses, to be thrown to the ground and handcuffed and treated in that fashion, it does seem certainly excessive and I think you could argue unfair.

Do I think it's ethical what they did? Wow. I think the fact that a lot of the people that were arrested were petty... I don't even want to call them criminals. They were petty offenses. You know, you might have been arrested that day because you didn't answer a summons for a parking ticket. It could have been me.

Do I think it's ethical what they did? Wow. I think the fact that a lot of the people that were arrested were petty... I don't even want to call them criminals. They were petty offenses. You know, you might have been arrested that day because you didn't answer a summons for a parking ticket. It could have been me.

I read an article about the sting operations that the U.S. Marshal Service were conducting around the country. And they were getting a lot of media attention. And I thought, well, this is interesting. Maybe we could get inside one of these stings. And I reached out to the U.S. Marshal Service. I talked to Toby.

I read an article about the sting operations that the U.S. Marshal Service were conducting around the country. And they were getting a lot of media attention. And I thought, well, this is interesting. Maybe we could get inside one of these stings. And I reached out to the U.S. Marshal Service. I talked to Toby.

And sure enough, they were beginning their largest operation or sting in Washington, D.C.

And sure enough, they were beginning their largest operation or sting in Washington, D.C.

Right. Look, they wanted the attention. They were getting a lot of great headlines around the country. And we came to them and said, look, we'd like to get inside one of your stings. This is great for you. It tells the public that the U.S. Marshal Service is out there chasing the bad guys. And so we sold them on that.

Right. Look, they wanted the attention. They were getting a lot of great headlines around the country. And we came to them and said, look, we'd like to get inside one of your stings. This is great for you. It tells the public that the U.S. Marshal Service is out there chasing the bad guys. And so we sold them on that.

We wired everybody up. Phone calls came in.

We wired everybody up. Phone calls came in.

Hold on. One of the marshals would take the information.

Hold on. One of the marshals would take the information.

Thank you. And sure enough, you know, a good number of them called in, and we captured it all on videotape.

Thank you. And sure enough, you know, a good number of them called in, and we captured it all on videotape.