319 S 17th St, Suite 522, Omaha, NE 68102
Get experienced RICO help from Law Office of Eric R. Chandler, PC, LLO, a reputable law firm in Elkhorn, Nebraska.
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RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
10050 Regency Circle, Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68114
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
The Omaha Building, 1650 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
13815 FNB Pkwy, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68154
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, NE 68102
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
1403 Farnam Street, Suite 232, Omaha, NE 68102
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
First National Tower, Ste 3700, 1601 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68102
RICO Lawyers | Omaha Office | Serving Elkhorn, NE
13330 California St, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68154
Lead Counsel independently verifies RICO attorneys in Elkhorn and checks their standing with Nebraska bar associations.
Our Verification Process and CriteriaThe 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
It is in your best interest to get legal help early on in addressing your situation. There are times when hiring a lawyer quickly is critical to your case, such as if you are charged with a crime. It may also be in your best interest to have a lawyer review the fine print before signing legal documents. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve suffered a serious injury. For issues where money or property is at stake, having a lawyer guide you through the complexities of the legal system can save you time, hassle, and possibly a lot of grief in the long run.
An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.
For most consumer legal issues, the size of the practice is much less important than the experience, competence, and reputation of the attorney(s) handling your case. Among the most important factors when choosing an attorney are your comfort level with the attorney or practice and the attorney’s track record in bringing about quick, successful resolutions to cases similar to yours.
Plaintiff – a person or party who brings a lawsuit against another person(s) or party/parties in a court of law. Private persons or parties can only file suit in civil court.
Judgment – A decision of the court. Also known as a decree or order. Judgments handed down by the court are usually binding on the parties before the court.