re: #484 BeenHereAwhile

To “conspire” to commit a federal crime adds counts to an indictment.

Conspiracy charges give US prosecutors a lot of wiggle room in pre-trial and court proceedings.

IMHO, this jury was predisposed to not convict.

A unanimous vote is required in federal criminal trials in order for a jury to find defendant(s) guilty as charged in each count.

Clarence Darrow said (no quotes because it may not be exactly word for word): In this country we can’t put a 10-year-old boy in jail for stealing a dime—but we can put two 10-year-old boys in jail for conspiring together to steal a dime, even if they fail in the attempt.