Mr. McEachern, the original prosecutor, did not respond to a message seeking comment.

J.W. Johnson, the original prosecutor, was unavailable for comment on Thursday.

The state presented witnesses, including the police investigators and original prosecutors, who described a careful investigation of the crime, without any coercion.

The award angered supporters of an original federal prosecutor in the case, Richard Convertino.

Some family members seethed with rage at the police, the original prosecutors and the news media.

Robert Fiske, the original special prosecutor, had been removed from his post in August 1994 to make way for Starr.

The sentence came despite a plea agreement negotiated with the original prosecutor in the case, Robert Dean.

"The only case that I left and still care about is this one," said Joan M. Azrack, the original prosecutor.

After seeing the "60 Minutes" program in late 1988, Ms. Azrack, the original prosecutor, started the investigation that led to the felony fraud charges.

The original prosecutor, Gordon Ankney, stands by the conviction.