How did Boston Marathon bomber Dzokhar Tsarnaev receive the death penalty in Massachusetts, a state that has outlawed capital punishment?

Laramie County District  Attorney Jeremiah Sandburg says it all has to do with what charges he was convicted on. Sandburg says because Tsarnaev was convicted under federal terrorism charges, the fact his crime and trial took place in a state that doesn't have the death penalty is irrelevant.

People convicted of federal crimes such as terrorism and treason can be sentenced to die regardless of where the crime occurred. But even though there is a death penalty for federal offenses, it is rarely imposed.

In fact no one has been executed under federal charges since Timothy McVeigh was put to death in connection with the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing. That bombing occurred in 1995 and McVeigh was executed in 2001.

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