Introductory Note: When two or more people agree to commit an act that is a crime, they can be convicted of “conspiracy” to do that act. This is true even if they don't ever carry out the crime itself. (In fact, in most states, they can be convicted even if they don't do anything more than make the agreement, and never carry out any acts in furtherance of the conspiracy). Conspiracy is an increasingly important prosecuto-rial tool whenever groups of people plan to commit crimes together.