Orlando Federal Conspiracy Defense Attorney

Conspiracy is one of the most frequently charged and little understood federal crimes. It generally involves two or more people agreeing to commit a federal offense, and one of the people doing something toward implementing the plan. There does not have to be any illegal act, written agreement, or other interaction, just evidence that the people involved were working together in some way to commit a crime sometime in the future.

Federal prosecutors often cast a wide net with conspiracy charges so they can accumulate additional evidence in other kinds of cases, such as drug distribution and fraud, and discover other possible offenses. One problem with this tactic is that individuals who have been even slightly involved with an alleged criminal act can be dragged into the case and punished severely.

Federal Conspiracy Laws

According to the general federal conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 371, a conspiracy occurs whenever two or more people agree to commit a specific federal crime, and at least one of those people takes some overt action to further the conspiracy. The law makes it illegal to conspire to defraud the United States or any U.S. agency and to conspire to break any federal law.

Other conspiracy laws deal specifically with controlled substances and robberies. The statute, 21 U.S.C. § 846, makes it illegal to conspire to manufacture, distribute, or process with intent to distribute controlled substances. Eighteen U.S.C. § 1951 prohibits committing a robbery of anything in interstate commerce, as well as conspiring to commit such a robbery.
 

Conspiracy Charges

To prosecute you on conspiracy charges, the government doesn’t have to prove you had a written agreement with someone to commit a federal crime or even met that person; the prosecutor need only show you were working with someone to do something illegal under federal law.

Because conspiracy charges are so broad, they can be abused and over-used by the government. You could, for instance, be charged with conspiracy for having discussed a potential robbery with someone who then bought a tool to possibly use in committing the robbery.

In another instance, you could have played a very minor role in a drug case, but be charged with drug conspiracy, and, if convicted, face a lengthy prison sentence because of the quantity of drugs involved. Unfortunately, in conspiracy cases, you can be held responsible for co-conspirators’ actions, even if you had minimal knowledge of or involvement with them.
 

Defending Against Conspiracy Charges

As your attorney, Jonathan Rose will work tirelessly to uncover all the details of your case in order to develop the most effective strategic defense possible. He will find out what role the government thinks you had in the alleged conspiracy as well as the evidence they have about you in this role. He will use his knowledge of how federal prosecutors work to develop an aggressive plan to fight for your rights.

It is possible you wanted to withdraw from the conspiracy, communicated this intent to others involved in it, and took some step toward withdrawing. If so, your defense could be built around this withdrawal or abandonment attempt. If, on the other hand, you were convinced to take part in the conspiracy by a government agent or law enforcement officer, then an entrapment defense might be possible.

The main point to keep in mind is that you need an experienced federal defense attorney investigating the details of your case and advocating for your rights at every step of the way. Call us at 407-894-4555 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website today so we can get to work immediately developing a powerful defense for you.
 

Protect Your Future with Skilled Legal Representation

Although sentences for federal conspiracy charges vary, depending on the crime at the heart of the conspiracy, prosecutors often charge conspiracies that call for up to 20-year prison sentences. Do what’s best for your future and contact the Jonathan Rose law firm.

Attorney Rose has over 20 years of experience as a trial attorney and the expertise you need to develop a strong, comprehensive defense strategy to protect your rights, freedom, and future.