Articles Posted in Federal Crimes

Most people in Massachusetts understand that a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to engage in criminal conduct. But what, exactly, is a federal conspiracy? The answer is both simple and complex. The United States Criminal Code states that “If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United…

The laws of Massachusetts define several kinds of conduct as sex crimes, including sexual conduct with a minor, sexual assault, child molestation and numerous others. Generally, most offenses involving sexual misconduct fall within the jurisdictions of the individual states. Nevertheless, federal law also defines a number of offenses as sex crimes. Some offenses on the…

Larceny is the “taking of someone else’s property without the use of force” – this is the main difference between larceny and robbery, which is generally defined as the taking of someone’s property with threats, intimidation and force. To be convicted for larceny in Massachusetts, a defendant must have unlawfully taken and carried away someone…

A previous blog post discussed the Massachusetts sex offender registration requirements. Sex offenders convicted of certain offenses must comply with Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Law which requires them to report personal details such as their names, addresses, height, weight and date of birth. Sex offenders who are classified as Level 2 or 3 must also…

In Massachusetts, sex offenders may be required to provide certain information to assist law enforcement officials in identifying sex offenders and to reduce opportunities for commission of sex crimes within communities. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Law requires sex offenders convicted of certain offenses to comply with registration requirements within two days of receiving notification…

Child pornography laws exist on both the federal and state level. Violations carry serious penalties upon conviction; even first-time offenders may be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison. However, while there are long-established laws making it illegal to possess, produce or distribute child pornography, social media is making it more difficult to determine…

Massachusetts law outlines many scenarios that may be considered kidnapping, each requiring different facts to be established and elements to be proven. Accordingly, the legal defenses to a charge of kidnapping will depend on the nature and circumstances of the alleged crime. A previous blog post discussed some of the different actions that constitute kidnapping in Massachusetts…

Despite constituting a federal crime, kidnapping is primarily prosecuted at the state level unless the kidnapping crosses state lines. Kidnapping laws in Massachusetts are complex and outline potential legal consequences for many different scenarios. In Massachusetts, kidnapping is defined as the taking and confining, without authority, of another person against their will. Courts take several…