The 'absurd' real-life sting operation that inspired a movie

In a surprising turn of events, a father and his daughter attended a concert, only to find out that it was a cleverly orchestrated sting operation by the FBI aimed at capturing a notorious criminal. While the concert itself was genuine, the venue was filled with law enforcement officers and special agents, all keeping a watchful eye on the crowd in hopes of finally apprehending a fugitive they had been pursuing for months. This scenario sounds like something straight out of a movie, and indeed, it has inspired the latest film titled Trap, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who is well-known for his films that feature unexpected twists, such as The Sixth Sense. Interestingly, the plot of Trap is based on a real-life event that took place four decades ago, known as Operation Flagship. In 1985, the FBI executed a sting operation that resulted in the arrest of over 100 criminals who were lured to a fake television station under the pretense of winning free NFL tickets. The operation was quite elaborate, as around 3,000 fugitives were sent invitations to receive complimentary tickets to a Washington Redskins game, along with a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Super Bowl. However, when nearly 120 of these individuals showed up at the headquarters of the fictional TV company to claim their prizes, they were met with arrest instead. This remarkable story served as the inspiration for the film. M. Night Shyamalan recounted, 'I heard about it when I was a kid and I thought it was totally absurd that this actually happened. ' He elaborated on how the FBI agents disguised themselves as cheerleaders and mascots, mingling with the criminals in a festive atmosphere. Shyamalan noted, 'They were literally partying with them, and then checked their names to ensure they were the right people before announcing, 'You're all under arrest. ' The sting operation took place on December 15, 1985, coinciding with a scheduled game between the Washington Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals. The targeted fugitives were informed that they had been randomly selected from a list of Washington DC residents to receive two free tickets. They were instructed to arrive in the morning to collect their tickets, with the promise of being transported by bus to the game that afternoon. Toby Roche, who was the chief deputy of the US Marshals at the time, played the role of an event usher during Operation Flagship. He recalled, 'We sent out invitations to a little under 3,000 fugitives, to a brunch at the Washington Convention Centre. ' Roche's responsibility was to ensure that the individuals who showed up were indeed fugitives. The agents had specific code words to categorize the criminals, with a 'confirmed winner' being someone who was wanted, and a 'double winner' being a more dangerous individual, such as someone involved in aggravated assault, murder, or robbery. Ultimately, more than 100 fugitives who arrived at the event were arrested on the spot. Bob Leschorn, another chief deputy of enforcement in the US Marshals, humorously noted that they had '119 extremely lucky individuals, who, by chance, were all wanted on criminal warrants. ' Instead of heading to the football game, these individuals found themselves on a trip to the DC jail. The agents cleverly used reverse psychology to encourage as many criminals as possible to attend the event, informing them that if they did not redeem their tickets and present their ID, the prize would be given to someone else. This tactic made many criminals feel compelled to attend, thinking they could not let their chance at winning tickets slip away. The US Marshals went to great lengths to ensure that everything surrounding the fake TV station appeared authentic. Agents were dressed in tuxedos and instructed to be polite and friendly to the criminals they typically pursued. Some female officers even took on the role of cheerleaders, physically engaging with the fugitives while discreetly patting them down to check for weapons. Howard Safir, who was posing as a marketing expert for the day, pointed out that sting operations are generally safe for arresting fugitives, as they are unlikely to come armed and are often in a celebratory mood. Once the criminals confirmed their identities, they were taken in small groups to a hall where a speaker announced, 'We've got a big surprise for you. Everybody's under arrest. ' The criminals were then surrounded and escorted out in handcuffs. In total, 101 arrests were made that day. Herbert M. Rutherford, a US Marshal for the District of Columbia, described the operation as 'party time,' noting that the criminals fell for the trap completely. Some fugitives were left in disbelief, even asking if they would still get to go to the game as they were being taken away. While Trap is not a direct retelling of Operation Flagship, it shares a similar absurdity. The film features a character played by Shyamalan's daughter, Saleka, who performs at a concert. Shyamalan reflected on how the absurdity of the real-life event inspired him while creating Trap, stating, 'The authorities used the absurdity against them because they lowered their guard, which I thought was quite brilliant. ' Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film has sparked interest in the original Operation Flagship and the creative methods used by law enforcement to catch criminals.