Federal Defense Attorney Explains RICO Cases

In the United States, there are laws that are aimed at preventing involvement with organized crime. Some of the most important of those laws are federal laws related to racketeer influence and corrupt organizations.

The federal laws that punish involvement with organized crime are called RICO laws for short, and the penalties if you are charged under the RICO Act can be very harsh.

RICO laws are complicated, and not every defense lawyer is prepared or able to represent you if you face federal RICO charges. Finding the right legal advocate is essential to protect your future and to ensure you are able to navigate the federal criminal justice system as effectively as possible. LV Criminal Defense can help.

For clients in Oregon, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and surrounding areas, our federal criminal defense lawyers are ready to put our decades of experience to work on your case. We have successfully represented defendants faced with serious federal charges, including those who have been charged under the RICO act, and we can help you to respond to an investigation and develop the most appropriate defense strategy aimed at minimizing the chances of conviction or lessening the penalties that you face.

You should respond assertively as soon as you discover you are under investigation for involvement with an organized crime and should make sure to have an attorney represent you who knows the laws well enough to help you devise the right legal strategy given the specifics of your case. To find out more about how LV Criminal Defense can provide comprehensive help and support, give us a call today.

Federal RICO Laws

The RICO Act, or federal laws on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, is found in 18 U.S. Code Chapter 95. There are a total of eight statutes within this chapter. These statutes establish the types of activities that are prohibited, provide definitions that apply throughout the chapter, establish criminal and civil consequences, and provide details on how RICO cases are prosecuted. The relevant statutes that make up federal RICO laws include the following:

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  • 18 U.S. Code section 1961 – Definitions
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1962 – Prohibited activities
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1963 – Criminal penalties
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1964 – Civil remedies
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1965 – Venue and process
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1966 – Expedition of actions
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1967 – Evidence
  • 18 U.S. Code section 1968 – Civil investigative demand

Each of these different statutes provides essential information to defendants who are accused of violating RICO laws so defendants will know what prosecutors need to prove in order to secure a conviction.

For example, 18 U.S. Code section 1962 makes it unlawful to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of any income derived from racketeering activity or derived from the collection of unlawful debt to create an enterprise that is engaged in activities affecting foreign commerce or interstate commerce.

It’s also unlawful under 18 U.S. Code section 1962 to use any part of income derived directly or indirectly from racketeering activity, or to use the proceeds from such income, to acquire an interest in an enterprise engaged in activities affecting interstate or foreign commerce.

However, purchasing securities or investments on the open market is not considered to be a type of prohibited activity for purposes of this statute as long as the purchaser and his family’s shares of securities don’t amount to one percent or greater of the outstanding securities of a particular class of stock and/or do not confer the right to elect any directors.

This statute also makes it a crime to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, an interest or control of an an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of unlawful debt or to conduct or participate directly or indirectly in an enterprises’ affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or through the collection of unlawful debt.

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18 U.S. Code section 1963 defines the specific penalties that a defendant could face for violating the laws set forth in 18 U.S. Code 1962 and acquiring an interest in or otherwise controlling an enterprise because of racketeering activities. Those penalties could potentially include 20 years to life imprisonment as well as loss of the interest in the enterprise and seizure of money and property obtained through racketeering.

These are just several of the key statutes you need to know if you’re faced with RICO charges. LV Criminal Defense can explain the specific details of what a prosecutor would need to prove so you’re prepared to respond to serious accusations.

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Getting Help from a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

RICO cases are very complicated, and federal RICO charges have been used to imprison some of the most notorious, most-wanted individuals within the United States. Even coming under investigation for crimes related to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations can be damaging to your reputation and can affect your future.

LV Criminal Defense is the federal criminal defense law firm that you need when you are faced with serious charges connected to organized criminal activity. We know how to develop a strategic, assertive response that is aimed at keeping you out of prison or reducing the prison time you face. We understand how to effectively introduce reasonable doubt in court so a prosecutor won’t be able to convince a jury to convict, and we also have extensive experience negotiating favorable plea agreements for our clients facing RICO charges.

Our legal defense team represents clients in California, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, or surrounding areas and we can have a long and successful track record of representing defendants accused of serious federal crimes so you can rest easy putting your fate in our hands.

When you need an attorney who you can trust to make the right choices related to defending against RICO charges, you should give us a call as soon as possible. Call today to find out what our firm can do for you as you navigate the federal criminal justice system and fight for an outcome that’s as favorable as possible for you.