![]() Unfortunately, due to several moving parts in a conspiracy charge, it’s very difficult for an attorney to defend an individual indicted on conspiracy charges. Generally, this charge is tacked onto a substantive charge of possession with the intent to distribute drugs, arms trafficking, mail or wire fraud, or a child pornography. Stated otherwise, there’s an agreement by two or more people to do something illegal and they agree knowing the unlawful purpose of the agreement. In generic terms a conspiracy is when two or more persons, in some way or manner, come to a mutual understanding to try to accomplish a common and unlawful plan as charged in an indictment related to another charge and that all conspirators knowing the unlawful purpose of the plan, willfully joined in. All in all, if you’re charged in a Federal conspiracy case one of the most important things you can do is hire a qualified Federal criminal lawyer. Not only can this coconspirator testimony be used at trial, the United States Attorney can avail themselves of it during pretrial motions or during sentencing hearings to push for an enhancement. ![]() This pressure often works as it generally allows for a sentencing reduction for the cooperating defendant while forcing the coconspirators to plea in order to avoid the possibility of a much harsher sentence after a near certain trial loss. Additionally, the filing of these charges casts a wider net, thereby supplying the United States Attorney’s Office with the ability to negotiate with one or more individual defendants to pressure them to testify against their coconspirators. In charging a conspiracy, the United States Attorney’s Office has more leverage against a defendant in that certain enhancements apply to these allegations but not to individual criminal allegations. Conspiracy is the best friend and bread and butter allegation of any United States Attorney’s Office when charging two or more people with a crime that they may have committed together.
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