However, in theorythere arestillvariousviews on the difference betweenpreparation for a crimeandexpressionof criminal intent and offense of conspiracy.
But Eugene Fiddell, a prominent military legal expert, said the conspiracy charge is not a war crime and is outside the jurisdiction of a military commission.
With the prosecution resting on a civil complaint charging Gold and Silver Reserve, Inc. with operating as an unlicensed money-transmitting business, Jackson finally acquiesced in July 2008 and plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering (a victimless crime) and operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business rather than the alternative threat of 20 years in jail and a half million dollar fine.
They are accused ofconspiracy to act as unlawful agents of a foreign government, a crime less serious than espionage but which carries up to five years in prison.