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• Feb 27, 2007 5:38 am US/Central
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  Washington Mom Taught Children To Fake Retardation

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Washington Mom Taught Children To Fake Retardation

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) ― A woman in Washington state has admitted she taught her two children to fake retardation in order to collect thousands of dollars in government aid.

Rosie Costello pleaded guilty to fraud charges in federal court.

Her son, Pete, who's now 26, pleaded guilty earlier this month. That was after Social Security workers became suspicious and uncovered a video of him ably contesting a traffic ticket in court.

Authorities are still looking for his sister, Marie.

Rosie Costello's plea agreement says she began coaching her children when they were young. She says she collected more than $330,000 from Social Security and state social services agencies.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)