Criminal conspiracy is a complex and serious crime. If you have been charged with conspiracy charges in Massachusetts, you require the representation of a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney. When you call the Law Office of Paul R. Moraski, we’ll go to work for you.
What is Conspiracy?
As found in Massachusetts law, a conspiracy is “an agreement of two or more people to do something that is unlawful … .or to do something by unlawful means.” This means that a person does not actually have to commit the unlawful act in order to be found guilty of conspiracy; they simply have to conspire to do the unlawful act. In this sense, the prosecution has a relatively straightforward burden of proof.
What Does the Prosecution Have to Show to Prove Conspiracy?
The prosecution will have to prove three things in order to secure a conviction of conspiracy:
- The defendant in question joined in an agreement with one or more other persons;
- The purpose of the agreement was to do something unlawful or to achieve something through unlawful means (e.g., planning to commit robbery, theft, identity fraud, or any other crime); and
- The defendant agreed to and joined in the plan with the intent and knowledge to execute the plan despite its illegality.
This third element is very important: unless the defendant understood that the conspiracy was to commit an unlawful act and entered into the conspiracy willingly and knowingly, they cannot be convicted.
What Are the Penalties for Conspiracy?
The penalties for conspiracy are found in Massachusetts General Laws. The penalties depend on the nature of the crime that was being planned. For example, if the conspiracy was to commit a crime that is a felony punishable by death or imprisonment for life, then the penalties are either/both a fine of up to $10,000 or/and an imprisonment sentence of up to 20 years. For conspiracies related to more minor crimes, on the other hand, the penalty might be a fine of up to $1,000 and/or jail time for up to 2.5 years.
How an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
If you’ve been charged with conspiracy, you may be looking at giving up a significant portion of your life to the jailhouse, as well as a large fine and damage to your personal reputation. To protect yourself and secure the best possible case outcome, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Your attorney will review the charges against you and the prosecution’s evidence, advise you in building your defense, and advocate for your best interests.
At the Law Office of Paul R. Moraski, our Massachusetts criminal defense attorney is ready to start working for you. Call us today for a consultation at (978) 397-0011 or reach out to us online to get started.