'Crime Prescription Period.'

My jurisdiction is: California

A ' criminal offence ':dgrin was committed twenty years ago against one man.The criminal conspirators:dgrin (Principals) are originally comes from ' professional
:dgrin level status.(These are the ' sacred cows,';or the ' white collar employees.)
Others who worked with the principals are the 'minimum salary employees. '(These are the ' accompliche' .) Majority of the above ' crime participators ' are working in one of government higher echelon . With the principals connections and influence(including in the '
network media . '),the said criminal 0ffence remained secret in the minds and hearts of those who participated for so long.
(Twenty years!) My question is:Just in case this 'criminal conspiracy' will be
exposed to proper 'place' like formal 'court hearing,'(Litigation) will the so-called ' prescription time period ' be applied
in this criminal offence? Just exactly how does a litigant lawyer understand
and apply 'prescription time period' in a commissioned crime happened twenty
years ago,but later discovered-that finally paved the way for the poor victim to elevate the conspiracy against him through proper court of justice?
Can you give ' case examples ' on this subject?