CONSPIRACY / 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371 is a federal criminal offense under U.S. law that prohibits two or more persons from conspiring to commit any offense against the United States or to defraud the United States. Specifically, this statute states that “If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” There are three main types of CONSPIRACY / 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371: 1. Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States: This type of conspiracy involves two or more persons working together to commit a crime against the United States, such as fraud, terrorism, or espionage. 2. Conspiracy to defraud the United States: This type of conspiracy involves two or more persons working together to defraud the United States, such as tax evasion, theft of government property, or bribery. 3. Conspiracy to commit any offense against the United States or to defraud the United States or any agency thereof: This type of conspiracy involves two or more persons working together to commit any crime against the United States or to defraud any agency of the United States, such as the IRS or the Department of Defense.