Criminal Defense Lawyers

What is 18 USC 371?

Title 18 USC 371 is known as the conspiracy to defraud the United States or commit an offense. This charge makes it illegal for two or more people to conspire to defraud or commit an offense against the federal government.

In addition to planning a crime or to defraud, at least one person does an overt act to put the conspiracy in motion. An “overt” act means that you or someone you allegedly conspired with attempted to commit the planned crime.

It’s important to note that federal prosecutors aren’t required to find a written agreement between you and two more individuals to arrest you for conspiracy. The government must prove that specific people were planning to commit a specific crime together.

The Types of Crimes You can be Charged with According to 18 USC 371

Federal conspiracy is the intent to commit another crime or defraud the government along with two or more people. It is a criminal charge that leads to another, more serious federal criminal charge. The most common criminal charge a person facing federal conspiracy may also face fraud and drug trafficking. The types of federal crimes you can be charged with along with federal conspiracy are:

• Seditious conspiracy
• Retraining trade
• Violating RICO
• Submitting fraudulent claims to the U.S.
• Federal healthcare offense
• Violating the Controlled Substances Act (this is found under the Title 21 USC 841
• Committing fraud
• Any crime against the U.S. to defraud or commit an offense

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2024-03-21

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2024-03-18

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2024-03-18

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2024-03-15

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2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

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2024-03-12

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2024-03-12

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2024-02-28

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2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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The Punishment for the Conspiracy Conviction Depends on the Crime

The government has a lot of leeway to punish a person found guilty of conspiracy to commit a federal crime. According to Section 371, you may receive five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. However, you may not be sentenced to five years if you are convicted of a specific crime like terrorism, racketeering or drug trafficking. Instead, you will receive the criminal sentence for that specific crime. This is called the underlying crime.

You may also be ordered to pay restitution to the government or have property and assets forfeited.

However, if the crime you’re accused of committing is a misdemeanor, you won’t receive federal prison time. You will receive the punishment for that misdemeanor. For example, if the misdemeanor sentence is one year behind bars and/or a fine, that’s the time you’ll receive.

Fighting a Federal Conspiracy Charge

You are charged with federal conspiracy, not convicted. You have the opportunity to fight this charge. Understand that many people are charged with conspiracy because federal prosecutors need information on alleged co-conspirators. You can’t assume the government will drop the charges after they receive any information.

Your specific defense will depend on the facts of your case. Most people attack the charge using the defense that they didn’t knowingly or willingly engage in trying to commit another federal crime. Another defense is to show that you withdrew from the conspiracy. This means you took an overt action to stop conspiring prior to the crime taking place.

Remember, you specific defense will depend on you the facts of your case. That’s why it’s important to discuss you case with a federal defense lawyer.

Allow Us to Fight Your Federal Conspiracy Charge

Conspiracy charges are serious. You face serious punishment for violating 18 USC 371. Federal conspiracy charges are often misunderstood. Often times innocent people are accused of federal conspiracy based on flimsy evidence or no evidence at all. This means you need knowledgeable legal representation which understands the severity of the crime and defenses available to you.

Contact our law firm. We are experienced in fighting federal conspiracy charges and work hard to prove our clients are innocent. Contact us immediately for assistance with your case.