Possible Clues:

• A close gathering of things
• Mental effort - relative amount put in to get solution?
• Innocent actor lost focus
• Long-running show featuring match-makers
• Deep thought process making denser
• Many receiving most meagre allowance required attention
• Study change in US helping effort to focus
• Close thought with money helping to support criminal
• Attention paid in Mass
• Close attention to trick to get money? Informer is charged!