text: has there ever been anyone punished for taking part in a lynching in the u.s.a? what is the penalty for involment in a illegal hanging in america,state or federal law. actually lynching does not necessarily to have anything to do with hanging someone.  a lynching is violence committed by a group of people.  in sc law, 1st degree lynching is a death causing by an act of violence by a mob.  2nd degree lynching is an act of violence by a mob which does not result in death.  a mob is defined in the statute as two or more people.  1st degree lynching can result in imprisonment from five to forty years.  2nd degree lynching can result in imprisonment from three years to twenty years.  of course, the definitions and penalties for lynching will vary from state to state.