One of the favorite crimes federal prosecutors love is the conspiracy charge. The essence of a conspiracy charge is the agreement to commit an illegal act. The fact that an agreed upon act (i.e. murder) is not successfully carried out is of no consequence to the charge of conspiracy. The crime is the agreement itself. To prove a conspiracy, federal prosecutors must prove 5 basic elements: (1) two or more persons, (2) intentionally, (3) made an agreement, (4) to violate federal law or defraud the United States and (5) committed some overt act in furtherance of that agreement. Many people facing federal conspiracy charges are surprised to learn they can be a defendant when they didn’t commit an overt act that was by itself a criminal act. In other words, even some of the most innocuous acts can form the “overt act” requirement to support a conspiracy charge. As mentioned above, the essence of a criminal conspiracy is the agreement itself and not the ultimate result. Conspiracy cases, even more than other criminal cases, turn significantly on the facts involved. For this reason, it is very important to have a lawyer skilled and knowledgeable in defending conspiracy cases. This requires having thorough knowledge of the federal conspiracy statutes and the exceptions that apply that can make the difference between a conviction and an acquittal. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Federal Defenders handles federal criminal cases (both trials and appeals) throughout the United States. With a combined total of more than 100 years of experience, the attorneys and investigators at The Federal Defenders know what it takes to win and achieve favorable outcomes for clients. Call us today at (800) 712-000 for a free and confidential consultation.