Federal Conspiracy Attorneys
The criminal charge of federal conspiracy is a wide-ranging charge that’s often used whenever there is more than one defendant in a case. This is a very common charge for prosecutors to pursue, and that’s because federal conspiracy is simply an agreement between several people to commit some sort of federal crime. If this sounds like a catch-all that could easily be abused in court, that’s because it is. Defendants can be charged with federal conspiracy even if they had no knowledge of what another defendant was doing, which can lead to lengthy prison sentences being given to defendants who took no physical part in any sort of crime that was being committed.
Because this is such a wide-ranging, far-reaching criminal charge that can apply to a variety of charges, cases, and people, it’s important to have legal representation that understands the inner workings of a federal conspiracy charge, a firm that has the experience and skill to fight the charges and get you the results you deserve. At the Norman Spencer Law Group, we have a combined 70 years of experience handling exactly these sorts of cases.
Contents
What is a Federal Conspiracy?
Federal conspiracy can and often does apply to a wide variety of crimes, from narcotics distribution to white-collar crimes such as fraud. Because the crime relates to an agreement made between multiple defendants to commit a federal crime, this criminal charge could theoretically appear in any federal case with more than one defendant.
What’s worse is that this is a relatively simple charge for prosecutors to bring against defendants, because the substantive crime here doesn’t even have to be committed. There simply has to be a conspiracy for that crime to be committed. Going further than that, even if it wouldn’t be possible for the defendants to commit the crime at all, federal conspiracy can still be charged and successfully prosecuted.
The most insidious aspect of a criminal charge of federal conspiracy is that every member of a conspiracy is charged for the crimes of another. So for instance, an individual could agree to distribute a relatively small amount of narcotics, not knowing that the person they’re working with is part of a conspiracy to distribute hundreds of kilos of narcotics. Instead of being charged for the small amount that they were originally going to distribute, this defendant would now be on the hook for all the actions of everyone else in the conspiracy.
What’s the Best Defense for Federal Conspiracy?
There are several strategies that a defense attorney can take while fighting criminal charges of federal conspiracy for their client. One of the most common and effective strategies is to argue lack of agreement. Simply knowing about or having an association with another defendant does not prove that there was an agreement between them to commit a crime, and this can be used in your defense.
Insufficient Evidence
Simply put, one of the easiest ways to fight charges of federal conspiracy is through lack of evidence. In order to convict, it must be proven and a jury must be convinced that an agreement was made, that there was some sort of coordination between defendants.
Withdrawal From the Federal Conspiracy
Another compelling defense has to do with a defendant performing some sort of affirmative action to remove themselves from the conspiracy. This can be a bit more difficult to successfully argue, as it’s not sufficient that a defendant stopped acting as a part of the conspiracy. They need also to have taken a positive step toward removing themselves from it entirely.
Lack of Intent
It needs to be proven in court that the defendant had awareness and intent to commit a crime. If they engaged in conduct that was not criminal and had no intent or awareness to enter a criminal conspiracy, then a criminal charge of federal conspiracy will likely not stick. A skilled firm can argue this fact in court.
Legal Impossibility
Along with the previous category, legal impossibility corresponds to defendants who agreed to an activity that is not in itself a crime. Engaging in a conspiracy is not a crime if the substantive activity being discussed or agreed to is not criminal in nature.
In a Federal Conspiracy, What Are My Options?
Facing a criminal charge of federal conspiracy can be daunting and extremely stressful, to say the least. You’ll have many questions, concerns, and fears, and you’ll need a defense lawyer that has a deep understanding of the legal complexities involved, a firm that has the skill and experience to handle your case.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all defense attorneys are equal. A lawyer with a proven track record at the state level will not necessarily be able to effectively defend you at the federal level. Federal law and federal criminal procedure are entirely different from their state counterparts, and so defendants facing federal conspiracy charges will need counsel that has a wealth of experience at the federal level.
Why Choose the Norman Spencer Law Group for Handling Federal Conspiracy Cases?
At the Norman Spencer Law Group, our seasoned defense attorneys have a combined 70 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients and cases at the federal level. We leverage that experience to provide the best possible legal defense for our clients. Our approach and focus on 1:1 service start right at the beginning. We have a number of convenient accessibility options, such as legal consultations that are fully remote, hosted through Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo.
If you need someone to come to you, we’ll make that happen as well–no matter where you are in the country. So get in touch today. Let us know who you are, what legal problems you’re facing, and how to get in touch with you. Someone from our team will be in touch right away, and help will be on the way.