Federal conspiracy charges can be a frightening accusation to face. Understanding what you’re being accused of and what your options are is important. Conspiracy cases on the federal level are different from state conspiracy cases. Federal agencies have considerable resources to expend on investigations. A federal investigation may progress significantly before prosecutors levy charges against you meaning they may already have extensive evidence when your case begins.
That being said, you can see why it’s important to contact a federal criminal conspiracy defense lawyer in Tampa as soon as you suspect you may be charged with a crime.
An individual doesn’t need to complete the crime associated with the conspiracy to be charged with conspiracy. They may not even understand that they did anything wrong by discussing the possibility of a crime. Prosecutors pursue conspiracy charges for a few reasons: the charges are a way to tack on an extra offense to other crimes, prosecutors can pit accused conspirators against each other, and they may not have to provide much evidence.
Given the rules regarding evidence, prosecutors have an advantage when the case is in court. They can use statements of people charged as co-conspirators against you and may offer those people reduced punishment in exchange.
An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to defend you against not only the conspiracy charges but also any other charges you face. There are many possible defenses for a conspiracy case. Depending on your exact circumstances, your lawyer will use the best defense or combination of defenses for you.
Lack of evidence of agreement: Your attorney will question if you knew you were agreeing to be involved in a crime. If the prosecutor cannot provide enough evidence to prove you agreed, you may be able to avoid conviction.
Coercion: If you agreed to the crime but only under pressure, including the use of threats, violence, or force, you may not be liable for your role in a potential conspiracy.
Withdrawal from conspiracy: Alternatively, it may be possible to prove you initially agreed to take part but then withdrew from the plan. For this defense to work, there must be evidence that you backed out of the crime and voiced your departure to any co-conspirators.
Mistake of law: You may be able to avoid conviction if you and your co-conspirators believed that your plans and actions were legal. Because it has to be a reasonable belief, this defense only makes sense if the crime is largely unfamiliar.
For a free consultation with a federal criminal conspiracy defense attorney in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.