patsy
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈpætsi// UK //pˈætsi// pat·sy
n. someone who is easily tricked or blamed for something that someone else did. You use this word when a person is being used by others to hide their own crimes or mistakes.
n. A person who is easily deceived or victimised, particularly one manipulated into taking the blame for another's wrongdoing. Often appears in the context of criminal or political conspiracies.
He realized too late that he was just a patsy for the gang.
The corrupt officials needed a patsy to take the fall for the missing funds before the auditors arrived.
In many classic noir films, the protagonist discovers he is merely a patsy in a much larger scheme, orchestrated by someone he thought he could trust.
Usage
Often used with the verb 'to be' or 'to play' ('to play the patsy').