In August 1938 a group of fur swindlers, assisted by New York City Patrolmen were part of a $400,000 silver fox fur swindle. The two furriers who were swindled of their prized furs were Irving Braverman and Nathan Greenberg. By January 1939 New York Governor Herbert Lehman had replaced the New York City district attorney with a handpicked special prosecutor. Adding excitement to the pending jury trial were indictments handed down to four policemen. Two of the patrolmen were accused of acting in direct consort with the fur swindlers.