8.21 Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. Sec. 371 "Defraud Clause") is a federal offense that is punishable by up to five years in prison. Under this statute, it is illegal for any person or group of people to conspire to commit any act or series of acts with the intent to defraud the United States. The main types of 8.21 Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. Sec. 371 "Defraud Clause") are tax fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. For any act or series of acts to be considered a conspiracy to defraud the United States, the defendant must have had knowledge of the conspiracy, taken at least one step to further the conspiracy, and had the intent to defraud the United States.