Not sure about a comedian but they are the kind of words I probably associate with Dennis the Menace, Beryl the Peril and The Bash Street Kids!
Just looked up synonyms and it must be this kind of ring:
2. (noun) trust, corporate trust, combine, cartel
a consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service
Synonyms: combining, corporate trust, trustfulness, trust, cartel, trustingness, faith, confidence, combine, reliance
A cartel or other more or less dodgy type of ring, such as a gang of car thieves.
Makes sense, then.