Conspiracy Lawyer in St. Louis

Conspiracy Lawyer in St. Louis, MO

Even if no crime was completed, a conspiracy charge in Missouri can result in serious penalties. At Combs Waterkotte, we provide aggressive, strategic defense for individuals accused of conspiracy to commit white-collar, drug, or violent crimes in state or federal court. Our experienced St. Louis criminal defense attorneys know how to dismantle weak prosecution claims and protect your rights from the moment an investigation begins.

Understanding Conspiracy Charges in Missouri

Conspiracy is broadly defined as an agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act. Under Missouri law and federal statutes, you can be charged with conspiracy even if the alleged crime was never completed. All the prosecution needs to prove is:

• You agreed with at least one other person to commit a crime
• One party took a “substantial step” toward committing that crime

Examples of “substantial steps” might include gathering materials, scouting a location, or communicating about the plan. You don’t have to directly participate in the crime to face charges — which makes conspiracy cases highly subjective and open to aggressive defense tactics.

Common Conspiracy Offenses We Defend

Our criminal defense lawyers have experience with conspiracy charges tied to a wide range of alleged offenses, including:

• White-Collar Crimes: Bank fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud
• Drug trafficking or distribution
• Armed robbery or assault
• Racketeering or RICO-related offenses
• Sex trafficking or exploitation
• Obstruction of justice or perjury

Because conspiracy charges often involve federal investigation and surveillance, our team understands how to challenge electronic evidence, cooperating witness testimony, and vague statements used to claim a “criminal agreement.”

Penalties for Conspiracy in St. Louis, MO

Under Missouri law, conspiracy is charged one level below the underlying offense. For instance:

• Conspiracy to commit a Class B felony = Class C felony
• Conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor = Class A misdemeanor

But in federal cases, penalties are much more severe. Conspiracy to commit a federal crime can carry the same sentence as the crime itself — including multi-decade prison terms. Additional consequences may include:

• Loss of employment or professional licenses
• Asset forfeiture and financial penalties
• Loss of firearm or voting rights
• Negative immigration consequences

Defense Strategies for Conspiracy Charges

Conspiracy charges often rely heavily on circumstantial evidence and questionable informants. At Combs Waterkotte, we scrutinize every claim, timeline, and statement to uncover inconsistencies and procedural violations. Depending on your case, we may use proven defense strategies such as:

• Entrapment: Showing law enforcement induced illegal conduct
• Coerced or Unreliable Testimony: Challenging the credibility of cooperating witnesses or co-defendants
• Lack of Agreement: Demonstrating no formal or implied agreement existed
• No Substantial Step: Arguing no real action was taken toward committing the crime
• Insufficient Evidence: Undermining vague or speculative interpretations of texts, emails, or surveillance