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1401 W Causeway Approach, Mandeville, LA 70471
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336 Lafayette St., Suite 301, New Orleans, LA 70130
, New Orleans, LA 70113
1261 W Causeway Approach, Suite 200, Mandeville, LA 70471
201 St. Charles Ave, Suite 2700, New Orleans, LA 70170
504 Huey P. Long Ave, Gretna, LA 70053-6028
909 Poydras Street, Suite 2000, New Orleans, LA 70112
Hancock Whitney Center, 701 Poydras St., Suite 4500, New Orleans, LA 70139-4596
1515 Poydras Street, Suite 2230, New Orleans, LA 70112
909 Poydras St, Suite 1500, New Orleans, LA 70112
1100 Poydras St, Energy Centre Ste 2950, New Orleans, LA 70163-1133
700 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
5500 Prytania St, Box 635, New Orleans, LA 70115
8120 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118
643 Magazine St, Suite 201, New Orleans, LA 70130
700 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
700 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
3330 West Esplanade Ave South, Suite 302, Metairie, LA 70002
650 Poydras Street, Suite 1800, New Orleans, LA 70130-6146
400 Poydras Street, Suite 2045, New Orleans, LA 70130
3 Sanctuary Blvd., Suite 201, Mandeville, LA 70471-3345
400 Poydras St, Suite 3150, New Orleans, LA 70130
530 Powder St, Suite 3, New Orleans, LA 70114
127 Terrabella Blvd, Covington, LA 70433
365 Canal St, Suite 2000, New Orleans, LA 70130-6534
Covington 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.