Solution: Sheikh-down of the F.B.I - NYT Crossword

Hi again, kids! The answer to the clever clue, “Sheikh-down of the F.B.I.?,” is ABSCAM. In 1978, the F.B.I. set up a sting operation that was meant to catch underworld figures who were dealing in stolen art. The story the mobsters were told was that there was a wealthy Arab sheikh who wanted to invest oil money in works of art. The F.B.I. gave the sting the nickname ABSCAM, short for the fake company they set up, known as Abdul Enterprises (Ab[dul] scam). The sting eventually grew to include corrupt politicians who were taking bribe money in exchange for influence in Washington, D.C., which was considered shocking in those days. If you can imagine.