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Criminal Conspiracy Lawyers
What is Criminal Conspiracy?
Conspiracy is the term for a broad category of crimes involving multiple actors coming together to engage in criminal activity. Specific federal anti-conspiracy statutes are found throughout federal law. State statutes also contain anti-conspiracy laws. In recent years, a growing number of white collar criminal prosecutions have included allegations of conspiracy. A person or business generally is guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime if that person or business does one of the following:
- with the purpose of facilitating or promoting its commission, agrees with another person or business to engage in conduct that constitutes a crime or an attempt or solicitation of a crime; or
- agrees to aid another person or business in planning, committing, or attempting to solicit a crime.
What are the Advantages of Charging Someone with Criminal Conspiracy?
Bringing a conspiracy charge offers the prosecution several distinct advantages. Prosecutors usually learn of a conspiracy while it is in an early stage; thus, they may prosecute before the underlying crime takes place. Further, prosecutors may be able to charge defendants simultaneously and present evidence against the group.
What Elements are Needed to Prove Criminal Conspiracy?
The two key elements in proving a conspiracy are an agreement and an act in furtherance of the conspiracy by one of the actors:
- A key element in prosecuting a defendant for conspiracy is proving the agreement. The agreement that forms the basis for conspiracy need not be written, oral, or even explicit, but is often inferred from the facts of the specific case. If the parties meet and reach an understanding to work for a common purpose, there is an agreement.
- Most criminal conspiracy statutes also require that at least one of the parties has committed an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.
What are the Two Types of Criminal Conspiracy?
A procedural issue of great importance to parties accused of conspiracy is whether government prosecutors try to frame the conspiracy as a "hub-and-spoke conspiracy" or a "chain conspiracy":
- In a hub-and-spoke conspiracy, many parties conspire with one person, but not with other defendants. It is advantageous for a defendant to have its actions characterized as part of a hub-and-spoke conspiracy; because that means that the conspiracies are separate and disconnected.
- A chain conspiracy involves several parties as links in one long criminal chain. Defendants in chain conspiracies are responsible for the actions of all participants in the chain, even if they never met some of the other participants in the chain.
Should I Contact a Lawyer if I Have Been Accused of or Arrested for Criminal Conspiracy?
Criminal conspiracy is a complicated criminal charge that involves several complicated legal theories. If you have been accused of or arrested for criminal conspiracy, you may find the advice of a criminal defense attorney to be helpful in solving your legal problems.
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