Conspiracy refers to an illegal act done in collaboration (and intentionally) by two or more people. Conspiracy may take place when parties use illegal ways to achieve something legal or use legal ways to achieve illegal results.
To prove a conspiracy, it is important to first prove that the people involved in the act did agree to the plan. Otherwise, it would just be taken as a set of independent illegal acts.
Conspiracy Explained
Conspiracy can either be criminal or may take form of a civil lawsuit:
- An example of civil conspiracy is when a group of salesmen have agreed to a plot where they would be selling used and old phones as new. These salesmen can be sued by the purchaser for damages.
- Conspiracy to crimes – such as manufacturing illegal drugs and weapons, money laundering or any crime that has federal jurisdiction – is called criminal conspiracy.
Charges against criminal conspiracy are almost similar in every court and are called conspiracy charges. In all of these cases, intent is necessary, but only “general intent” of violation of law is needed. Specific intent is not required.
Even if the end of the activity is legal, the whole activity would still be considered illegal. For example, if a group of people steal something from a shop (illegal) to help someone in need (legal), the whole activity in this example would still be considered illegal.