

What Are the Penalties for Conspiracy Convictions? That is why it is very important to seek the services of an experienced conspiracy defense lawyer in Maryland if you have been accused of conspiring to commit a crime. Conspiracy crime statutes are often very broadly worded, and defendants may be very surprised to learn that they are accused of conspiring to commit a crime. Many times, prosecutors will file conspiracy charges to gain leverage over a wider range of people than those charged with the actual commission of a crime. Or any kind of crime that can involve more than one person.Īlleged ‘gang members’ are frequently charged with conspiracy if a crime is considered to be “gang related.” With gang related conspiracy charges, a defendant may be charged if they had knowledge that a crime was possibly going to be committed, or if they would benefit from the commission of the crime.What Kinds of Crimes Might Have Conspiracy Charges?Ĭonspiracy charges can be used against defendants alleged to be involved in crimes such as: § 11-204, dealing with unlawful contracts, combinations, and conspiracies, notes that a person may not “…conspire with one or more other persons to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce.” This statute deals with areas such as price-fixing, discrimination, monopolies and unfair competition. It is important to remember that conspiracy charges are not just related to violent crimes.
#WATCH DEFENSE ATTORNEY CONSPIRE CODE#
The actual sections of the code on which the charges are based on are drawn from the laws related to the specific alleged crimes, rather than a separate set of conspiracy laws.įor example, a criminal charge related to conspiracy to commit murder would state something similar to: “(the primary defendant) and (name of alleged co-conspirator) on (date) in (county) unlawfully conspired together to murder (name of victim), against the peace, government, and dignity of the State.” This is based on § 1-203 of the Maryland Criminal Code. Because of the complexity and ramifications of conspiracy laws in Maryland, it is very important to secure a Maryland conspiracy lawyer if you or a loved one have been charged with a conspiracy offense. Understanding and defending against conspiracy charges can be particularly difficult because such crimes are often considered incomplete, or inchoate, crimes. All that is necessary is that the parties have come together with the intention of committing the crime. Under Maryland law, a person can be charged with the attempt to commit a crime, even if the crime itself is not completed. In Maryland, a conspiracy to commit a crime occurs when two or more parties make an agreement to engage in criminal activity.
