Top Santa Clara, CA RICO Lawyers Near You
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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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1900 Camden Avenue, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95124
Other Nearby Offices
RICO concerns can be addressed by Bulldog Law. This practice offers legal representation for clients in the Santa Clara, California area.
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3031 Tisch Way, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95128
2475 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1194
530 Lytton Avenue, Second Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94301
601 South California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304
1841 Page Mill Rd, Suite 150, Palo Alto, CA 94304
1279 Oakmead Pkwy, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
1950 University Avenue, Suite 450, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
50 West San Fernando Street, 7th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113
2570 N. 1st Street, 2nd Floor, San Jose, CA 95131
3330 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304
615 National Ave, Suite 220, Mountain View, CA 94043
1117 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304
2479 E. Bayshore Road, Suite 185 (North Entrance), Palo Alto, CA 94303
2600 El Camino Real, Suite 400, Palo Alto, CA 94306
50 West San Fernando Street, 10th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113
1570 The Alameda, Ste. 212, San Jose, CA 95126
160 West Santa Clara Street, Suite 1180, San Jose, CA 95113
1900 University Avenue, 6th Floor, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
1960 The Alameda, Suite 185, San Jose, CA 95126
660 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304
1661 Page Mill Road, Suite A, Palo Alto, CA 94304
225 West Santa Clara, Suite 1500, San Jose, CA 95113
620 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304
2440 W. El Camino Real, Suite 700, Mountain View, CA 94040-1499
Santa Clara RICO Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies RICO attorneys in Santa Clara and checks their standing with California bar associations.
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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.