Federal Racketeering Laws

[Etna]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been browsing Title 18 of U.S. Code and I've noticed there's a Chapter 95 and 96 - one is referenced as "Racketeering" and the other as "RICO". What exactly is the difference? I thought they were one in the same.

[Snakes]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been browsing Title 18 of U.S. Code and I've noticed there's a Chapter 95 and 96 - one is referenced as "Racketeering" and the other as "RICO". What exactly is the difference? I thought they were one in the same.

Racketeering activity can be conducted by an individual or a loosely connected partnership or group. RICO targets more organized criminal groups with definable structures or hierarchies. That is my interpretation of it.

[PolackTony]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been browsing Title 18 of U.S. Code and I've noticed there's a Chapter 95 and 96 - one is referenced as "Racketeering" and the other as "RICO". What exactly is the difference? I thought they were one in the same.

Racketeering activity can be conducted by an individual or a loosely connected partnership or group. RICO targets more organized criminal groups with definable structures or hierarchies. That is my interpretation of it.

Yes I think the distinction here is between committing the offense of engaging in defined racketeering activities vs. participating in a conspiracy with an established pattern of racketeering activities.

[Etna]

I see how certain Racketeering charges are interfering with "interstate commerce" through threats of violence - through robbery and extortion. And then I get the Racketeering activity, so its multiple crimes defined as racketeering activity and then how they pair at least 2 people to commit those acts as part of an enterprise. I hate to say it, but I get a headache reading this.

[AM434]

Chapter 95 Defines what Racketeering and the acts that are defined as "Rackets", while Chapter 96 defines and establishes what a Racketerring Influenced Corrupt Organization is (the enterprise/organization) and the penatlites that incur from being charged as part of such an organization.