RICO charges
Organized crime indictments
RICO charges are federal criminal accusations brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a 1970 law designed to prosecute organized crime.
RICO allows prosecutors to charge individuals for participating in a pattern of criminal activity through an enterprise—even if they didn't personally commit every crime.
The law's power lies in holding leaders accountable for crimes committed by subordinates: The mob boss faced RICO charges for murders he ordered but didn't carry out.
Originally targeting the Mafia, RICO now applies to street gangs, corrupt businesses, and political organizations.
Convictions carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and asset forfeiture.
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- federal indictmentFormal accusation from national prosecutors
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
mafia · extortion · conspiracy · federal · mob · conviction · enterprise · criminal · witness · cooperating witness · testimony · plea deal · plea bargain · informant · witness protection · wiretap · laundering · kingpin
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- political scandalsWatergate, Iran-Contra, Whitewater, Teapot Dome, coverup
- drug crimesdrug trafficking, drug dealing, drug smuggling, drug conspiracy, narcotics trafficking
charge, charges, charged, charging, charger, chargeable, discharged, recharge, rechargeable