The feds never made that claim

It's true that the feds will try to turn people against each other... but when it comes to malicious hackers, they're usually already stabbing each other in the back anyway. 

He was, in fact, in contact with the feds.

Now people have to wonder if there's already a man on the inside, if he's selling out smaller fish to save his own ass, or if it's all just playful banter to feel each other out.

... it's most likely all of the above. 

The feds do pay criminals to do dirty jobs... but in this case, this is just a psychological analysis and reverse brain engineering. 

nostr:nevent1qqsx0435e4gc34q2y0hzjjr8h255phuru8uj05zjmv2nrcufpeyr55spp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqzyqupm0x8zw82hxn3aq2v27phe8tz8aqrdmqzgrhnqgesdp8lezec7qcyqqqqqqgghtryt