Top Enfield, CT RICO Lawyers Near You
Experience Matters When So Much Is On The Line. Representing Clients In All States For Federal Criminal Defense
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Fed Trouble? Free Consult. Former Prosecutor & Team Former Federal Agents. Call/Text 24/7. Immediate Response Guaranteed!
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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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100 Pearl Street, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103-4506
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Brown Paindiris & Scott LLP has experience helping clients with their RICO needs in Enfield, Connecticut.
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39 Russ Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106
A law firm in Enfield, Connecticut, Law Offices of Robert B. Muchinsky, LLC experienced in helping clients with RICO issues.
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500 Enterprise Dr, Suite 402, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
363 Main Street, 4th Floor, Hartford, CT 06106
100 Pearl Street, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
One Constitution Plaza, 5th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
185 Asylum Street, City Place II, 15th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
One State Street, Hartford, CT 06103
185 Asylum Street, CityPlace I, 34th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103-3458
50 Founders Plaza, Suite 203, East Hartford, CT 06108
50 Russ Street, Hartford, CT 06106
185 Asylum Street, 6th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
2230 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
29 South Main Street, Suite 305, West Hartford, CT 06107
One Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103
20 Church Street, Hartford, CT 06103-3402
280 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103
One Goodwin Square, 225 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT 06103
130 Washington St, Hartford, CT 06106
280 Trumbull Street, 22nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
225 Asylum St, Hartford, CT 06103
1022 Boulevard, Suite 272, West Hartford, CT 06119
123 Elm St, PO Box 554, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
One State Street, Suite 1800, Hartford, CT 06103
71 Raymond Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107
Enfield 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.