While some New Yorkers may be tempted at one time or another to break the law, they do what is right and do not do so. However, sometimes it is possible to commit a crime via conspiracy, even if it wasn’t you that committed the actual crime itself.
Conspiracy charges in New York range from sixth-degree to first-degree conspiracy. Under New York law, an individual may be charged with sixth-degree conspiracy if he or she agrees with at least one or more individuals to commit a crime. An individual may be charged with first-degree conspiracy if her or she agrees with at least one person under age 16 to commit a class A felony. However, an individual in New York cannot be convicted of the crime of conspiracy unless some sort of overt act – that is, some step in furtherance of the crime – has been taken by at least one of the conspirators.
Conspiracy, depending on the degree, can range from a class B misdemeanor for sixth-degree conspiracy to a class A-1 felony for first-degree conspiracy. However, no matter what degree of conspiracy is committed, a conviction can result in undesirable and sometimes severe penalties.
Determining whether one has committed the crime of conspiracy is not always straight-forward and in fact can be quite nuanced. However, should an individual face such charges, he or she should develop a solid criminal defense strategy. This post only provides general information about conspiracy in New York. Criminal defense attorneys can educate their clients further about the crime of conspiracy, and help them fight the charges.
