criminal conspiracy
Joint illegal scheme
Criminal conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal act, whether or not the act is actually carried out.
The crime lies in the planning and agreement itself: They were charged with criminal conspiracy to commit fraud.
Prosecutors use conspiracy charges to hold all participants accountable, even those who didn't directly commit the underlying offense.
- co-conspiratorPartner in wrongdoing
- joint enterpriseShared undertaking by multiple parties
- RICOFederal anti-organized-crime act
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
mob boss · mens rea · organized crime · intent · smoking gun · wire fraud · Ponzi schemes · plea bargain · plea deal · guilty plea · sting operation · collusion · agreement · surveillance · money laundering · Enron scandal · accomplice · Watergate scandal
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- inchoate crimesattempt, solicitation, incitement, attempted murder, attempted robbery
- public disorderriot, rioting, affray, public disorder, breach of peace
collective vs. individual action
criminal conspiracyunilateral action