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People v. Lauria
Lauria provides a common and hard scenario: a vendor who sells ordinary goods or services that are then used to commit a crime. Gun sellers, for example, might suspect or know that some of their clients will use the guns they buy to commit crimes. Is the gun seller in a conspiracy with the buyer?
Those who run online marketplaces such as Facebook know some of the customers will use the marketplace to buy or sell drugs, guns, or other contraband. In fact, Ross Ulbricht, aka Dread Pirate Roberts, ran the Silk Road online marketplace, which largely dealt in drugs and guns. He was convicted of conspiracy.
In reading Lauria, keep in mind these other vendor scenarios. When does a vendor become a co-conspirator? The issue hinges on mens rea. What mens rea does Lauria require and how does it suggest it can be proved in vendor cases?
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