The remaining 16 people were charged by the U.S. Attorney's office with falsely obtaining Federal benefits.

The conspiracy charge against Whitaker was dropped, but she was convicted of falsely obtaining nearly $23,000 between 1983 and 1987.

Margot MacLellan, aged 64, was convicted of falsely obtaining $28,000 between 1978 and 1988.

Joy Travellyn, aged 56, was convicted of falsely obtaining over $38,000 between 1979 and 1988.

Helen Buchanan, aged 49, was convicted of falsely obtaining almost $15,000 between 1980 and 1987.

The blackmail guilt arises out of the threat to have your son arrested for falsely obtaining a loan, a threat made at a time when no money had exchanged hands.

Mrs. West, 35, has also been charged with bank fraud in a Federal complaint that says she falsely obtained a $400,000 mortgage for the Mill Neck house.

Falsely obtaining or using a Social Security number is a felony, according to the Social Security Administration.

After a search of Mr. Merrill's Long Branch home, the authorities found pipe bombs, a pistol and a falsely obtained West Virginia driver's license.

In 1998 six Americans were charged with falsely obtaining H-1A visas and using them to employ Filipino nurses as nurse aides instead of registered nurses.