NYC Conspiracy Crime Attorney
If you or a loved one has been accused of conspiracy, you will need an experienced and skilled New York City conspiracy crime attorney. Mark I. Cohen, Esq. has nearly three decades of experience helping clients in the greater New York City area with a wide variety of criminal matters, including conspiracy charges.
What is a Conspiracy Crime?
In New York, conspiracy to commit a crime is when someone acts, agrees, or performs with another person with an intention to commit a crime. Depending on the circumstances of the crime committed, you could be prosecuted in either a federal or state court. Unfortunately, conspiracy is often easy to prove since there is no requirement under the law to show exact proof of language used in the agreement to commit the crime in question. Essentially, it requires the testimony of only one person.
This problem is one of the reasons why it’s so important to retain a New York City criminal defense attorney who has experience defending conspiracy charges. When there is an investigation taking place, it’s not uncommon for unsuspecting and completely innocent people to be caught up in the middle. Without a competent and experienced criminal defense attorney on their side, they could find themselves convicted of a crime they did not commit.
Federal Conspiracy Crimes
When the agreement between two people is to commit a federal offense, it will be prosecuted by the federal government. There are multiple federal conspiracy charges. Some can include mail fraud, wire fraud, or even health care fraud. As previously mentioned, you can be charged with conspiracy for the mere intent. The agreement does not need to be carried out; perhaps the act was attempted but failed.
Every case is different, and the laws surrounding federal conspiracy charges can be complex. Just because someone is present at the scene of a crime and was aware a crime was taking place may not be enough on its own to establish guilt. Being associated with the people who are the conspirators may not necessarily be enough either. If someone enters an agreement, but backs out, it may limit his or her criminal liability.
Punishment under federal law varies based on the severity of the conspiracy charges, but you could be sentenced to five years in a federal prison and face up to a $250,000 fine. If the charges involve wire fraud, mail fraud, or health care fraud, it could involve even up to 20 years in a federal prison.
New York Conspiracy Laws
The state of New York also has its own laws regarding conspiracy charges. In the most basic form, it might be Conspiracy in the Sixth Degree, which is a Class B Misdemeanor. This could result in up to 90 days in jail. If there are aggravating factors, it could be more. Conspiracy in the First Degree involves someone over the age of 18 who enlists two or more people who are under 16 to commit a felony. This carries a potential life sentence in prison.
Contact a New York City Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you or someone you love has been charged with conspiracy, contact Mark I. Cohen, Esq. today to schedule an initial consultation. It’s important we start work on your defense right away in order to have ample time to conduct a proper and thorough investigation.
