Absolutely too convenient, and add in all the money his family got; far more than he was worth.

Family is something that even bad people try to protect. Tell him, "do this and your family will be rich" would absolutely appeal to a lowlife.

.. Especially if there were promises to save him and that he would be fine. We know that apparently he died at the hospital. The plan could easily have been to do it, stir up shit, family gets wealthy, you'll be a star, but the deep state doesn't like loose ends.