RICO – Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorneys

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Acts (or “RICO” Act) is a federal law that makes it illegal for supervisors or employers to instruct their employees to commit crimes on their behalf.

The law was designed to aid in the prosecution of gang and mob leaders who have ordered their associates to commit racketeering in general, which includes kidnapping, arson, robbery, murder, bribery, and so forth. RICO is used to prosecute a wide variety of criminal organizations, including drug and burglary rings, as well as white collar crime organizations.

Under RICO, any member of a criminal organization who commits two or more specific crimes within a ten-year period may be charged with racketeering. The applicable offenses include:

• Any acts which violate state laws against kidnapping, murder, arson, bribery, extortion, drug trafficking, gambling, and dealing in obscene matter.
• Any acts which violate federal laws, including those related to counterfeiting, embezzlement, mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and weapons and human trafficking.
• Bankruptcy and securities fraud.
• Drug trafficking.
• Money laundering.
• Acts of terrorism.
• Embezzlement of union funds.

Penalties from RICO offenses can be quite severe, including enormous fines and long prison sentences, as well as the forfeiture of all assets which were obtained through organized crime. RICO also allows for civil remedies for individuals who were harmed by the alleged illegal activities, allowing them to collect damages.

If you are suspected of organized crime or are a member of an organization which is being investigated under RICO, you may be or become the target of an intrusive and far-reaching investigation by local, state and/or federal law enforcement agencies.

If have been indicted on RICO charges or believe you are under investigation, you should contact an experienced attorney immediately. At Kenny, Burns & McGill, our attorneys have handled thousands of cases from start to finish, including federal criminal and civil cases brought under RICO. Contact us today to ensure that your rights and future are protected.