Was it a "conspiracy" trial? It's always easier for the gov't to convict a defendant because they don't have to prove that he actually committed the crime, only that he was "conspiring with others" to commit the crime. Also, the judge will allow "uncorroborated testimony from unindicted co-conspirators"--meaning that if you're on trial and the gov't thinks I conspired with you, they'll haul me in, tell me I'm a co-conspirator, then will withhold indicting me in return for my cooperation with them in your trial. The can coerce me into testifying against you. And when I do, the prosecution won't have to produce "corroborating witnesses" who will testify that I told the truth because they witnessed what I saw, which would be required in a standard felony trial.