A criminal conspiracy is generally a partnership formed to commit a crime or crimes. A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more persons form an agreement to violate a law that includes criminal penalties, and then take one or more steps designed to accomplish the goal of the conspiracy.

Federal and state statutes make criminal conspiracies illegal for two primary purposes: (1) to help combat the powerful forces created when two or more people collaborate to commit a crime; and (2) to allow criminal prosecutors (state and federal) to prosecute persons who play a role in planning a crime but who are not involved in the physical acts taken to complete the underlying crime.

For example, under federal law, if two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency of the United States in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to accomplish the objective of the conspiracy, each of the conspirators may be fined under and imprisoned for up to five years. See 18 U.S.C. §371. And most states have statutes (usually located in the penal or criminal code) that make criminal conspiracies a crime and include significant punishment upon conviction.

In Maryland, criminal conspiracy is recognized as an agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime, followed by an overt act in furtherance of that agreement. The state's statutes align with the general principles of conspiracy law, aiming to deter and punish the collaborative efforts to commit crimes and to prosecute those involved in the planning stages of criminal activities, even if they do not participate in the execution of the crime itself. Maryland's criminal law (found in the Maryland Criminal Law Code) outlines the elements and penalties for conspiracy. For instance, under Maryland law, conspiracy to commit a felony is generally punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding the maximum sentence for the crime that was the object of the conspiracy. The specific statutes and penalties can vary depending on the nature of the underlying crime that was the target of the conspiracy. Additionally, federal law, particularly 18 U.S.C. § 371, also applies to conspiracies to commit federal offenses or to defraud the United States, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for up to five years. An attorney can provide more detailed information on how these laws might apply to a specific case in Maryland.