Prosecuting DC Federal Conspiracy Cases

If you have been charged with a federal conspiracy crime, you should obtain the services of a seasoned defense lawyer. A dedicated federal conspiracy lawyer could advocate for you and help you get a favorable outcome. A legal professional with knowledge about prosecuting DC federal conspiracy cases will know how to build a strong defense and negotiate for you.

What Does the Prosecution Need to Prove in a Conspiracy Case?

The prosecution must prove the two main elements in a conspiracy case. When prosecuting DC federal conspiracy cases, the prosecutor must show that there was an agreement to do something illegal between two or more people, and one of the conspirators committed at least one overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. The act does not have to be illegal. For example, someone conspires to commit fraud and in the continuance of the conspiracy, at least two people illegally agree to commit fraud. If one person buys a computer to facilitate the conspiracy, the purchase of the computer is not illegal. However, it is an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Proving Intent in a Conspiracy Case

The prosecution proves intent in DC federal conspiracy cases by showing that an illegal agreement was undertaken between two or more people. In that instance, intent is incorporated into the elements of a conspiracy. There are also underlying elements in a conspiracy. For example, the government tries to prove a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In this case, the conspiracy elements of the illegal agreement and the overt act must be proved. The underlying elements of the conspiracy must be demonstrated including an intent element.

Gathering Conspiracy Evidence

In conspiracy cases, the government uses a wide variety of techniques to gather evidence depending on the type of case. Evidence could include documents, emails, text messages, recorded phone communications, and witness testimony from eyewitnesses, cooperating witnesses, or informants.

A written agreement is not needed to prove conspiracy. Often, there is no actual written agreement because it is unlikely that two people who are planning to do something illegal put their agreement in writing. Evidence might consist of text messages or emails that may provide circumstantial evidence of the conspiracy. Circumstantial evidence uses the surrounding events of the situation to prove an element of the crime.

Wiretaps are often used in the investigative phase of a conspiracy case. The evidence obtained from wiretaps could be used at trial to prove a variety of elements. Recently, wiretap evidence is used more frequently because the technology is sophisticated and easier to use by law enforcement.

What is Co-Conspirator Hearsay Exception?

The co-conspirator hearsay exception allows statements made by the co-conspirators in a conspiracy to be used against other co-conspirators. It is an exception to the hearsay rule that says statements made by someone who is not in court cannot be used against another person. The co-conspirator hearsay exception enhances the ability of the government to prosecute conspiracy cases.

The co-conspirator hearsay exception makes it more challenging to build a defense because there is a concern that co-conspirators’ statements could be used against the defendant, and those co-conspirators may never appear in court. For example, if a co-conspirator pleads guilty, their statements could be used against the defendant with no opportunity to cross-examine that person.

Contact a DC Lawyer About the Prosecution of Federal Conspiracy Cases

If you would like to learn more about prosecuting DC federal conspiracy cases and how an attorney could help you, call today. A seasoned lawyer has experience handling these types of cases and could fight for you.