Why RICO Is Such a Serious Federal Crime in Dallas

What are RICO statutes, and how do they apply to federal crimes in Dallas?

Penalties for a federal crime in Dallas are significant, and anyone charged with these criminal offenses must take it seriously and secure an experienced legal team.

Federal crimes involve violations of federal statutes, so the trial of anyone charged with these crimes would be in a federal court.

It also means that anyone convicted of a federal crime faces often harsh federal sentencing guidelines that judges tend to follow.

This is especially true if an individual or organization is charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a federal law with significant criminal penalties.

 

Types of Federal Crimes

Before analyzing what role RICO plays in federal criminal prosecution, it’s first important to understand some of the different types of federal crimes.

Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code categorizes the following types of crimes as falling under federal jurisdiction, although this is by no means a complete list: (1)

• Aircraft – Destroying a commercial plane or operating an aircraft while under the influence
• Animals – Unlawful removal, transportation, harm, or destruction of an animal, or smuggling an animal
• Arson – Intentionally setting fire to a property, which can also include killing someone in or on that property
• Bankruptcy – Any type of fraud related to filing bankruptcy for the express purpose of not paying a debt
• Conspiracy – Any plan between two or more people to commit a criminal act, even if that act never takes place
• Drug Trafficking – Possession of illegal drugs with the intent to distribute or sell those drugs
• Firearm Violations – Illegal possession of weapons that must be registered and licensed
• Forgery – Illegal copying of printed material or art with the intent to deceive someone into believing the material or artwork is real
• Fraud – Any intentional act to deceive another person for the purpose of financial gain, including health care fraud, insurance fraud, wire fraud, credit card fraud, and securities fraud
• Kidnapping – Illegal abduction of another person, or refusal to allow another person to leave a contained area
• Racketeering – The operation of an organized criminal enterprise that profits from illegal activities through force, intimidation, and violence

 

The serious crime of racketeering is at the heart of any person or organization accused of a RICO violation.

 

What Are RICO Charges?

The federal law that made RICO charges possible was passed in 1970, and its main purpose was to destroy organized crime in the U.S.

The law makes it illegal for anyone to be involved in or associated with any enterprise that engages in a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt. (2)

To obtain a conviction, federal prosecutors must prove:

• The enterprise exists or existed
• The enterprise affected interstate commerce
• The accused was involved with or employed by the enterprise
• The accused was involved in racketeering activity
• The accused was involved in at least two racketeering acts
• The acts are continuous and criminal
• The acts are a standard way of doing business

The RICO Act defines an enterprise as an individual, partnership, corporation, or organization, which means RICO charges can be filed against one person, several people, or an entire group.

The U.S. government has used the RICO act to go after organized crime groups and violent gangs, and because RICO charges carry higher sentences than most other federal crimes, the government is able to weaken these groups by putting their leaders behind bars.

However, it is important to understand that the RICO statute does not just apply to mobsters.  The fact that you are not involved in the mafia or a criminal street gang does not mean the RICO statute will not apply.

 

RICO Defenses

There are several RICO defenses that attorneys can use to help clients charged with these federal crimes, but the most common is to challenge the assertion that the defendant was engaged in a pattern of criminal activity.

The burden of proof is high in a RICO case, and the prosecution must present evidence proving that the defendant knowingly and repeatedly engaged in the criminal activity.

For example, if the defendant committed only one criminal act that would not rise to the standards necessary for conviction under RICO.

In addition, defense lawyers can argue that a client did work for the enterprise, but was unaware that criminal activities were taking place.

This defense requires presenting evidence that the defendant did not have access to certain levels of the organization, which would create sufficient reasonable doubt in the mind of a jury.

An attorney with experience dealing with the RICO statute will always analyze the indictment to see whether arguments can be made that the alleged conduct does not meet all of the technical requirements of the RICO law.

 

Hiring a Federal Crime Attorney in Dallas

Anyone charged with a crime that falls under the federal government’s jurisdiction should think seriously about hiring a federal crime attorney in Dallas. These lawyers understand federal statutes and are aware of sentencing guidelines, including the punitive aspects of a RICO conviction.

 

Sources:

1. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I
2. https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-109-rico-charges