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Simple English definitions for legal terms
wheel conspiracy
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A quick definition of wheel conspiracy:
A wheel conspiracy is when one person or group (the "hub") makes separate agreements with two or more other people or groups (the "spokes") to do something illegal. The person or group at the center of the wheel is the only one responsible for all the illegal actions. It's like a wheel with spokes, where the hub is the center and the spokes are the people or groups involved in the conspiracy.
A more thorough explanation:
A wheel conspiracy is a type of criminal conspiracy in which a single person or group (the "hub") separately agrees with two or more other people or groups (the "spokes"). The person or group at the hub is the only party liable for all the conspiracies.
For example, if a drug lord at the center of a wheel conspiracy separately agrees with several drug dealers to distribute drugs, the drug lord is the only one who can be held responsible for the entire conspiracy. The drug dealers are only responsible for their individual agreements with the drug lord.
Another example is a company CEO who separately agrees with different employees to commit fraud. The CEO is the only one who can be held responsible for the entire conspiracy, while the employees are only responsible for their individual agreements with the CEO.
Wheel conspiracies can be difficult to prosecute because the spokes may not be aware of each other's involvement in the conspiracy. However, the hub can be held responsible for all the actions of the spokes in furtherance of the conspiracy.