Cherrybim, the only deceptive angle to this matter is the manner in which you posed your pseudo-shailah to your Rav. You asked a general question, which included a presupposition that these three young men are “criminals”, and received the answer that any ehrlich Rav would give based on the question.
Evasive? You’re the expert. May Hashem help that you are yours are never in a similar situations, notwithstanding all righteous protests that you and yours would n-e-v-e-r be so gullible…