That is how business is run in the US, but not exclusively. They don't want to have dirty hands and hired some company with specific profile to do this job for them. They took a time to find company like this. This is not an unexpected accident. And when things become hot, they blow some money to shut other mouths.

Shady practice for the bad people who got caught several times. Taking responsibility for them will be ceasing whole business. Just stop doing bad things.