Conspiracy

Facing any type of criminal charges can lead to possible jail time, fines, and a host of other consequences. However, adding a count of conspiracy to commit a crime allows prosecutors to increase the potential penalties you might face. If you have been charged with conspiracy, contact a Fulton County conspiracy lawyer to discuss and review your situation. A distinguished criminal attorney can help you determine what criminal defense legal strategies are available to you.

Defining Conspiracy Offenses

In Georgia, a conspiracy exists anytime two or more people agree to attempt an illegal activity. Anyone facing these charges should speak with a Fulton County conspiracy lawyer about how to proceed with their case.

Some of the most common types of underlying offenses Georgia conspiracy lawyers deal with include:

• Distributing or trafficking drugs in any variety of ways and are more serious than drug possession
• Drug possession: possessing drugs either on your person or somewhere within your control such as a car, home, bag, etc
• Mail fraud: financial fraud using mail systems such as the US Postal Service, UPS, etc
• Money laundering: creating the appearance that money from illegal activity came from legal activity
• Wire fraud: financial fraud using information technology

Distribution of Obscene Materials

To be found guilty, the person must have, known the plan was unlawful and proceeded to attempt it anyway.

Distribution of obscene materials includes anything that:

• Has a prurient appeal, as decided by the average person applying the standards of the community
• Portrays sexual conduct in an offensive way
• Lacks serious artistic, literary, scientific, or political value

Conspiracy charges allow prosecutors to question and negotiate with, a group of people, instead of just one. In practice, that often means pitting one defendant against another and potentially reducing one defendant’s sentence while significantly increasing another’s. Georgia uses conspiracy as parties to a crime. If several people engage in a criminal act, all can be charged even if they did not commit the specific crime. If three people attack one person and the person suffers a broken nose, all parties can be charged even if they were not the person who delivered the actual blow.

Role of Intent to Commit a Crime

One of the key factors in a conspiracy charge is intent. If three people decide to rob a convenience store with a gun, they can likely be charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. It does not matter if they go through with it, only that they intended to achieve the same outcome. However, it is also important to understand that a party does not have to expressly agree to participate. The people involved do not need to verbalize their intent because their actions will be considered intent to commit the crime under the law.

However, if two of the three shared their plans, but the third person did not help in any way, they may not be convicted of conspiracy. Conspiracy charges can be complicated and difficult to ascertain who agreed to do what. That is where an experienced Fulton County conspiracy lawyer can help.

How a Lawyer Can Help

If you have been charged with conspiracy, you may be facing harsh penalties including jail time, fines, and more. Those penalties will vary depending upon the alleged crime, and the facts and circumstances surrounding your situation. A Fulton County conspiracy lawyer can act on your behalf to assess the charges against you and make sure those charges do not escalate based on police interrogation tactics.

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