According to a 1987 study, more than 350 people have been erroneously convicted of crimes potentially punishable by death in this century; 116 of them were sentenced to death, and 22 were executed.

An alleged ringleader has been accused of 14 cases of bank fraud, and each of these accusations is potentially punishable with up to 30 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

To desert in wartime is a serious offense, potentially punishable by death.

By week's end, Mr. Unanian and two others had been charged with terrorism, potentially punishable by death.

The Court of Appeal noted that the "reverse burden" applied to purely regulatory breaches, rather than genuine criminal offences potentially punishable by imprisonment.

Mr. Lipka was charged with conspiracy to commit espionage, which is potentially punishable by death, but law-enforcement officials said they did not view the case as serious enough to justify such a punishment.

Under the law, about 10 categories of murder are potentially punishable by death by legal injection or life without parole.

Prosecutors charged Mr. Markhasev with murder during a robbery or attempted robbery, which is potentially punishable by death.

In his letter, Mr. Ryan formally warned the suspects that they would be indicted before Aug. 11 with "one or more crimes potentially punishable by death."

Mr. Ballan argued that the wording of the law makes any threat, even an idle one, potentially punishable.