1.   Such conduct would violate a federal extortion statute.

2.   No charges have been filed against Edwards as yet, but he and several members of his family are targets in a sweeping federal extortion probe.

3.   State Sen. Hildred Schumake and state Rep. Frank Redding were indicted on separate federal extortion charges.

4.   A former Houston mayor changed his plea to guilty Tuesday in a federal extortion case that spun out of the investigation and trial of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.

5.   McMahon was arrested in jail where he is already being held on federal extortion charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Weissmann said.

6.   Thirty-year-old Richard Barnett pleaded guilty earlier in the week to federal extortion and drug distribution charges.