RICO or the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a United States law which provides for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. It was enacted as Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. A criminal organization is a group run by criminals to further their illegal activities. ... The Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 was a Congressional bill signed into law by U.S. President Richard M. Nixon. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

It has been speculated that the name and acronym were selected in a sly reference to the movie Little Caesar, which featured a notorious gangster named "Rico." The original drafter of the bill, G. Robert Blakey, has refused to confirm or deny this. [1] Little Caesar is a 1931 crime drama which tells the story of a man who works his way up the ranks of the mob until he reaches its upper heights. ... Professor G. Robert Blakey, the nation’s foremost authority on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), has served on the Notre Dame Law School faculty for more than 20 years, from 1964 to 1969 and since 1980. ...

Summary

Under RICO, a person or group who commits any two of 35 crimes—27 federal crimes and 8 state crimes—within a 10-year period and, in the opinion of the U. S. Attorney bringing the case, has committed those crimes with similar purpose or results can be charged with racketeering. Those found guilty of racketeering can be fined up to $25,000 and/or sentenced to 20 years in prison. In addition, the racketeer must forfeit all ill-gotten gains and interest in any business gained through a pattern of "racketeering activity." The act also contains a civil component that allows plaintiffs to sue for triple damages. United States Attorneys represent the U.S. federal government in United States district court. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ...

When the U. S. Attorney decides to indict someone under RICO, he has the option of seeking a pre-trial restraining order or injunction to prevent the transfer of potentially forfeitable property, as well as require the defendant to put up a performance bond. Some have said this provision is intended to force a defendant to plead guilty before indictment. An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that either prohibits or compels (enjoins or restrains) a party from continuing a particular activity. ...

Where RICO laws might be applied

Although some of the RICO predicate acts are extortion and blackmail, one of the most successful applications of the RICO laws has been the ability to indict or sanction individuals for their behavior and actions committed against witnesses and victims in alleged retaliation or retribution for cooperating with law enforcement or intelligence agencies. Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person obtains money, behaviour, or other goods and/or services from another by wrongfully threatening or inflicting harm to his person, reputation, or property. ... Blackmail is the crime of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a monetary demand is met. ...

The RICO laws can be alleged in cases where civil lawsuits or criminal charges are brought against individuals or corporations in retaliation for said individuals or corporations working with law enforcement, or against individuals or corporations who have sued or filed criminal charges against a defendant.

Anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) laws can be applied in an attempt to curb alleged abuses of the legal system by individuals or corporations who utilize the courts as a weapon to retaliate against whistle blowers, victims, or to silence another's speech. RICO could be alleged if it can be shown that lawyers and/or their clients conspired and collaborated to concoct fictitious legal complaints solely in retribution and retaliation for themselves having been brought before the courts. A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is a form of litigation filed by a large corporation or in some cases, an individual plaintiff to intimidate and silence a less powerful critic by so severely burdening them with the cost of a legal defense that they abandon their criticism. ... A whistleblower is an employee, former employee, or member of an organization who reports misconduct to people or entities that have the power to take corrective action. ...

Famous Cases

In 2002 the former minority owners of the Montréal Expos baseball team filed charges under the RICO Act against Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria claiming that Selig and Loria deliberately conspired to devalue the team for personal benefit in preparation for a move. If found guilty, Major League Baseball could have been found liable for up to $300 million in punitive damages. The case lasted for two years, successfully stalling the Expos move to Washington or contraction during that time. It was eventually sent to arbitration and settled for an undisclosed sum, permitting the move to Washington to take place. This happened notably after Loria, now owner of the Florida Marlins had received a significant financial boost after winning the World Series and Selig refused to permit the Expos to engage in September callups, effectively killing their chances at the playoffs. In many circles the settlement was considered to be hush money and a de facto admission of guilt. 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Montréal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montréal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 to 2004. ... Allan Huber Bud Selig (born July 30, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the current Commissioner of Baseball, having been formally appointed on July 2, 1998 after having served as acting commissioner since 1992. ... Jeffrey Loria is an art dealer and an owner of professional baseball teams. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993-present) East Division (1993-present) Major league titles World Series titles (2) 2003 â€¢ 1997 NL Pennants (2) 2003 â€¢ 1997 East Division titles (0) None Wild card berths (2) 2003 â€¢ 1997 Major league nicknames Florida Marlins (1993-present) Major league home ballparks Dolphins Stadium (1993...

In 2005, Tanya Anderson of Oregon responded to a lawsuit on behalf of Atlantic Records by in turn suing them under the RICO laws. Her suit alleges that RIAA members, in this particular case Atlantic, engaged in illegal computer trespass, extortion, and unfair trade practices under Oregon state law. 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) Senators Ron Wyden (D) Gordon Smith (R) Official language(s) None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in order to recover a right, obtain damages for an injury, obtain an injunction to prevent an injury, or obtain a declaratory judgment to prevent future legal disputes. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is a record label founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson, principally as a R&B label. ... The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a special interest group representing the U.S. recording industry, and the body responsible for certifying gold and platinum albums and singles in the USA. For more information about sales data see list of best selling albums and list of best selling...

RICO laws were cited in NOW v. Scheidler, which sought damages and an injuction against anti-abortion activists who physically block access to abortion clinics. The case is still active, but the in the course of litigation, the Supreme Court has ruled that extortion cannot occur if the accused organization does not materially or financially benefit. NOW v. ... Activism, in a general sense, can be described as involvement in action to bring about change, be it social, political, environmental, or other change. ...

External links

• RICO Act from Cornell University's U. S. Code database
• Detail of Tanya Anderson's claim against Atlantic Records