Conspiracy and Corruption Charges
Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys
A famous judge described conspiracy as "that darling of the modern prosecutor's nursery." To prove a criminal conspiracy under federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 371, the government must establish three elements: (1) an agreement to commit an offense, (2) willing participation by the defendant, and (3) an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. Knowledge and participation in the conspiracy may be proven by circumstantial evidence. A criminal conspiracy is nothing more than an agreement to accomplish some common criminal objective, or to work together for a common criminal purpose. As long as at least one overt act is done by a member of the criminal conspiracy, then all of the members of the conspiracy are considered to have committed the crime. This theory of criminal liability is sometimes referenced as the Pinkerton doctrine, which is based on the seminal United States Supreme Court case of United States v. Pinkerton, 328 U.S. 640 (1946). Conspiracy is often charged in federal criminal cases because it is typically easier for prosecutors to prove than substantive criminal charges such as:
Criminal defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin is one of the country's most sought-after attorneys for high-stakes cases involving conspiracy and corruption. When the Houston Criminal Lawyers Association gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2008, it was acknowledging his persistence, tenacity, and track record of successfully defending clients in difficult trials and appeals.
At DeGuerin & Dickson, we provide our clients the aggressiveness, thoroughness, and attention their cases deserve.
We represent clients in Texas and across the nation.
Our clients facing corruption charges typically hold positions of power or authority. Public corruption cases often involve high-profile defendants and therefore attract significant media attention. We have handled many high-profile cases and understand how to work with the print and broadcast media.
Contact our Houston law firm to schedule a consultation with a defense lawyer or call (713) 223-5959. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer calls. Se habla español.
