Top Carlsbad, CA RICO Lawyers Near You
Certified Criminal Law Specialist and Attorney of the Year by the San Diego Transcript. Free Case Evaluation/Quote. Call Now!
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SoCal Super Lawyers 16 years in a row, AV rated. Criminal defense attorney offering experience, skill and personal attention.
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When Results Matter Most, Put 42 Years of Criminal Defense to Work For You! Open 24/7. Free Consultation.
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Our nationwide team of defense lawyers includes a former U.S. Attorney, four former Federal Prosecutors, two former FBI agents and two former Army JAGS.
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Award Winning Criminal Attorney. Fighting For Your Rights. Fighting For Your Future. Providing Thoughtful Support And Strong Advocacy For Your Complex Criminal Defense.
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Former Prosecutor Fighting For You! Top Rated Federal Criminal Defense Law Frim.
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400 S Melrose Dr., Suite 101, Vista, CA 92081-6632
If you need RICO help in California, contact Christoph Law Offices, a local practice in Carlsbad, for legal representation.
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4747 Executive Drive, Suite 240, San Diego, CA 92121
501 West Broadway, Suite 900, San Diego, CA 92101-3577
750 B Street, Suite 2900, San Diego, CA 92101
402 W Broadway, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101
380 South Melrose Dr, Suite 301, Vista, CA 92081
401 West A Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-8484
4655 Executive Drive, Suite 350, San Diego, CA 92121
109 W C St, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92101
2244 Faraday Ave, PMB, Carlsbad, CA 92008
550 West C Street, Suite 620, San Diego, CA 92101
401 W A St, Suite 1150, San Diego, CA 92101
600 W. Broadway, One America Plaza, Suite 500, San Diego, CA 92101
3835 Monroe Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
402 W Broadway, Suite 810, San Diego, CA 92101
12860 El Camino Real, Ste 400, San Diego, CA 92130
4365 Executive Drive, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92121
613 Westlake Street, Suite 221, Encinitas, CA 92024
12531 High Bluff Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92130
655 West Broadway, Suite 1300, San Diego, CA 92101
12255 El Camino Real, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92130
662 Encinitas Blvd, Suite 216, Encinitas, CA 92024
12670 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130
4660 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 900, San Diego, CA 92122
225 Broadway, Suite 1460, San Diego, CA 92101
Carlsbad RICO Information
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What Is a RICO Violation?
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act was enacted in 1970 to address organized crime. Under RICO laws, anyone associated with the criminal group could be charged, including organization leaders who ordered or oversaw the criminal activity without directly taking part. RICO also provided for civil remedies and triple damages to recover unlawful gains.
How Do I Get a RICO Charge?
A RICO charge generally involves participation in a “criminal enterprise” with a “pattern of racketeering activity.” To get a RICO charge, the prosecutor must suspect you were involved in a criminal gang or group and the criminal activity involved more than a one-time event. Initially, RICO was used to go after organized crime and the Mafia. However, since the law went into effect, it has been used to indict a number of alleged criminal enterprises, including street gangs, motorcycle gangs, corporations, and police departments
The RICO Act also makes it a violation to conspire to commit racketeering offenses. Conspiracy to violate RICO charges means that someone can be charged and convicted even if the crime was never carried out. A conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, with some overt act towards furthering the offense.
What Does the RICO Act Cover?
A “pattern of racketeering activity” requires at least two qualifying acts, within a period of ten years. The RICO Act has included several crimes that qualify as racketeering activity, including state and federal offenses. Acts of racketeering can include:
- Illegal gambling
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Extortion
- Arson
- Robbery
- Bribery
- Dealing in obscene matter
- Drug offenses
- Counterfeiting
- Theft
- Embezzlement
- Fraud
- Witness tampering
- Human trafficking
- Money laundering
- Murder-for-hire
- Loan-sharking
- Terrorism
- Mail fraud
- Wire fraud
- Securities fraud
How Serious Is a RICO Charge?
A RICO charge is a serious criminal offense that carries the possibility of jail time, fines, and seizure of assets. RICO charges are federal felony charges that include imprisonment for up to 20 years or more. In addition to prison penalties, there are severe financial penalties, which include forfeiture of any interest, security, or property derived from racketeering activity.
There are also civil penalties under RICO. A violation of the RICO Act could include ordering the defendant to turn over financial or business interests, restrict future activities, and break up organizations. Civil remedies can also require restitution to any victims of the criminal offenses.
How Do You Beat a RICO Case?
When federal prosecutors charge someone with RICO offenses, the penalties can include years in federal prison and loss of your financial assets. However, you may have a strong legal case to beat RICO charges. Legal defenses may include challenging the prosecutor’s case to show there was no criminal enterprise and no pattern of criminal activity.
Even if you were involved in criminal activity, it has to be a pattern of racketeering. If there is only evidence of one crime, the defendant should not be convicted under RICO. Alternatively, committing a crime on your own without participation in a criminal organization may be another defense strategy.
Prosecutors may rely on the seriousness of RICO charges to get the defendant to plead guilty to other charges instead of facing the increased RICO penalties. However, before you plead guilty to criminal charges, you should consider talking to a criminal defense attorney for legal advice.