Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 274, § 7 (2026)

Conspiracy; penalties

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 7. Any person who commits the crime of conspiracy shall be punished as follows:

First, if the purpose of the conspiracy or any of the means for achieving the purpose of the conspiracy is a felony punishable by death or imprisonment for life, by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years or in jail for not more than two and one half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Second, if clause first does not apply and the purpose of the conspiracy or any of the means for achieving the purpose of the conspiracy is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a maximum period exceeding ten years, by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or in jail for not more than two and one half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Third, if clauses first and second do not apply and the purpose of the conspiracy or any of the means for achieving the purpose of the conspiracy is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years, by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail for not more than two and one half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Fourth, if clauses first through third do not apply and the purpose of the conspiracy or any of the means for achieving the purpose of the conspiracy is a crime, by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars or by imprisonment in jail for not more than two and one half years, or both.

If a person is convicted of a crime of conspiracy for which crime the penalty is expressly set forth in any other section of the General Laws, the provisions of this section shall not apply to said crime and the penalty therefor shall be imposed pursuant to the provisions of such other section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 56 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1970–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Kerns, 871 N.E.2d 433 (Mass. 2007).

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Commonwealth v. Kerns, 871 N.E.2d 433 (Mass. 2007). · cites it 2× “269, § 14 (b); and conspiracy to commit mass murder, G. L. c. 274, § 7. 1 The charges arose out of allegations that the defendant, and others, planned to execute a terrorist-type attack on students, teachers, resource officers, and administrators at Marshfield High School (high…”

Commonwealth v. Lys, 110 N.E.3d 1201 (Mass. 2018). “256, § 68; two counts of conspiring to violate controlled substances laws, G. L. c. 274, § 7 ; thirteen counts of attempting to distribute a class D substance, G.”

Commonwealth v. McLaughlin, 726 N.E.2d 959 (Mass. 2000). · cites it 2× “265, § 18 *242 (b), conspiracy to commit murder, G. L. c. 274, § 7, First, and conspiracy to commit armed assault with intent to murder, G.”

United States v. Sandoval, 6 F.4th 63 (1st Cir. 2021). “§ 18; and conspiracy to commit murder, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 274, § 7 . The indictment also charged both Larios and Martinez with an additional crime -- conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.”

Commonwealth v. Winter, 402 N.E.2d 1372 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “Once the trial judge received the verdicts, his task in the first instance, ordinarily routine, was to determine the parameters set in the applicable statute (G. L. c. 274, § 7), so that he could sentence within those parameters.”

Commonwealth v. Bryant, 852 N.E.2d 1072 (Mass. 2006). “In 2001, the defendant, an attorney, was tried and found guilty of three indictments charging conspiracy to commit larceny of insurance companies in violation of G. L. c. 274, § 7. The defendant appealed, arguing that a Superior Court judge erred in denying a motion to suppress…”

Commonwealth v. Dellinger, 409 N.E.2d 1337 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “721, § 1, which specifies graduated punishments depending on the penalty prescribed for the substantive offense which is the object of the conspiracy (or the means by which the object is to be accomplished), it is probably more practical and useful to think of the elements of…”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 21 N.E.3d 937 (Mass. 2014). “266, § 37E); conspiracy (G. L. c. 274, § 7); and criminal harassment (G.”

Commonwealth v. Mattier, 474 Mass. 261 (Mass. 2016). “Grice, were convicted by a jury on indictments charging one count each of conspiracy to commit larceny, G. L. c. 274, § 7, and attempted larceny, G.”

Commonwealth v. Atchue, 471 N.E.2d 91 (Mass. 1984). “See G. L. c. 274, § 7. He was sentenced to a term of not more than ten years nor less than five years to be served at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole.”

Commonwealth v. Stack, 728 N.E.2d 956 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 2× “The appellants were convicted as follows: Rosemary Stack, Richard and Frank Gonzalez (brothers), and Raul Cortes, convicted of conspiring, see G. L. c. 274, § 7, to commit an armed assault in a dwelling, G.”

Commonwealth v. Cabral, 819 N.E.2d 951 (Mass. 2005). “265, § 26; conspiracy to commit kidnapping, G. L. c. 274, § 7; assault by means of a dangerous weapon, G.”

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