... the Feds decided to step in and implicate a law that says an institution of higher learning that accepts federal money cannot accept bribes, etc.

And said institutions (or people acting on behalf of said institutions) that accept federal funds, have been accepting bribes, so ipso facto, what would have been a very serious recruiting a violation turned in to a federal criminal investigation. And because it was a criminal investigation, the feds are allowed to use actual investigative tools like undercover agents, paid informants, and dun, dun, dun ... WIRETAPS!!!

Too bad the NCAA can't utilize those same tools.