(S (S (BASENP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN noted) (SBAR (IN that) (S (S (VP (VBG choosing) (S (VP (RB not) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB investigate) (NP (BASENP (DT the) (JJ suspicious) (NN nature)) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (DT the) (NNS payments)))))))))) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ equivalent) (PP (TO to) (S (VP (VBG accepting) (BASENP (PRPD their) (NN illegality)))))))))))) (PERIOD .))