Punishment can be up to 5, 15, 20, or 30 years in federal prison, plus fines, depending on the underlying crime per (b).

The five-year sentence would be in addition to the sentence provided for the underlying crime.

Another serious problem with Scooter's pardon is that the underlying crime - Cheney's crime - put many other people at risk.

The gun offense carries a mandatory five-year sentence in addition to the sentence for the underlying crime.

But the crime of conspiracy to obstruct justice does not require a finding that the underlying crime was carried out.

It is illegal, even for a person innocent of the underlying crime, to conspire to create a false alibi or hinder an investigation.

Federal law holds that a conspiracy may exist even if the underlying crime never occurred.

The partially dressed bodies of all three women indicated that the underlying crime was sexual assault.

That is: if the underlying crime has not been committed, justify the investigation by indicting a big name for giving false information.

No one has been charged with the underlying crime of revealing classified material.