Once again, starting with the statute itself, aiding and abetting is defined this way: 18 USC 2 makes aiding and abetting a federal offense. A person who aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. A person who is guilty of aiding and abetting faces the same punishment range as the principal. The Supreme Court has defined aiding and abetting as assisting the perpetrator of a crime.