The "Slight Evidence" and Similar Formulations for Connection to a Conspiracy

In our Tax Fraud and Money Laundering Class last Monday, Larry Campagna and I addressed conspiracy under Title 18 USC § 371. We covered the key concepts for conspiracy, including the differences between the offense and the defraud / Klein conspiracy. In addressing conspiracy concepts common to both types of conspiracies, we cautioned the class about this comment in the text we use (our own, so this is mea culpa):

Although the Government must prove that a defendant was a member of a conspiracy, this requirement may be satisfied by a showing of only a “slight connection” to the conspiracy so long as the connection is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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