Conspiracy Lawyer

Within the broad criminal defense practice of Simmrin Law Group, conspiracy cases occupy a distinct and demanding corner of the work. Operating from an office at 3500 W Olive Ave, Unit 314 in Burbank, California, the firm led by attorney Michael "Mike" Simmrin represents people accused of agreeing with one or more others to commit a crime — a charge that, under California law, can attach even when the underlying offense was never completed. Because conspiracy sits alongside the firm's wider work on DUI, drug crimes, theft, violent offenses, and white collar matters, clients facing these allegations are guided by a team already familiar with how such charges are stacked, negotiated, and defended across the Southern California courts.

How Conspiracy Fits Simmrin Law Group's Criminal Defense Work

Conspiracy in California is defined under Penal Code §182 as agreeing with at least one other person to commit a crime and taking an overt act toward completing it. Whether or not the intended act — a robbery, an arson, or any other offense — actually happens does not erase the conspiracy charge, though carrying it out typically adds further counts. Prosecutors frequently pair a conspiracy allegation with other offenses, and if they cannot prove the conspiracy, they may fall back on related theories such as aiding and abetting, accessory after the fact, or participation in a criminal street gang. Simmrin Law Group handles these matters at both the misdemeanor and felony level, and at both state and federal levels, which matters because the exposure changes dramatically depending on where a case is filed.

What the Charge Involves in Plain Language

A misdemeanor conspiracy is treated as a "wobbler," meaning the prosecutor can elect to charge it as either a misdemeanor or a felony. That decision often turns on the defendant's level of involvement, any prior criminal history, and the seriousness of the crime that was planned. Federal conspiracy charges fall under 18 USC §371 and can escalate sharply when racketeering, murder, or other severe crimes are involved. The table below outlines, in general terms, how these frameworks differ.

How Simmrin Law Group Approaches a Conspiracy Case

The firm's defense work centers on the fact that an overt act in furtherance of the crime must be shown. Much of the strategy involves examining whether the accused actually took any step that moved a plan forward, or whether ordinary conduct is being reframed as criminal intent. A typical sequence for a client engaging the firm might look like this:

1. An initial free consultation to review the allegation and the circumstances that led to it.
2. A careful assessment of the client's actual level of involvement in any agreement.
3. Gathering evidence to test whether any overt act genuinely furthered the alleged plan.
4. Exploring defenses such as lack of agreement, coercion or blackmail, or withdrawal that was communicated to other participants.
5. Evaluating whether the prosecution's conspiracy theory is a fallback for weaker underlying charges.
6. Working to minimize or reduce the charges through negotiation or, where appropriate, contested proceedings.

A recurring example the firm uses illustrates the point: in a conspiracy-to-commit-arson case, simply having gasoline stored in a garage does not establish that it was bought for a crime — others may have taken and used it without the owner's knowledge. Drawing those distinctions is central to how the firm protects a client's interests.

Serving Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles Region

Simmrin Law Group's Burbank base places it near Warner Bros. Studios and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, with the surrounding neighborhoods of Magnolia Park, Toluca Woods, and Grandview close at hand. From there the firm serves clients throughout Los Angeles County, including the Hollywood Hills, Studio City, the NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, and Hancock Park. Cases arise across a landscape marked by landmarks such as Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Americana at Brand — the everyday backdrop for the communities the firm represents.

What Distinguishes the Firm's Handling of These Matters

Conspiracy law was originally created to prosecute large-scale crimes committed by criminal syndicates operating across cities or state lines, and that history means the charge is often applied broadly and aggressively. Simmrin Law Group approaches these cases with the same philosophy it brings to the rest of its criminal defense and mental health practice: treating clients like family, offering free and no-obligation consultations, and maintaining around-the-clock phone availability so that someone facing a serious accusation can reach counsel without delay. For people accused of conspiracy at either the state or federal level anywhere in this Los Angeles County service area, that combination of practical defense strategy and consistent access is what defines the firm's work.