An Introduction to Federal RICO and Continuing Criminal Enterprise Charges
The federal Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute (CCE) and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) were enacted to combat organized crime in general. The statutes are written very broadly in order to cover a wide range of organized crime activities. As a starting point, it is important to understand the difference between the RICO and CCE statutes.
What Activities Does the RICO Act Include?
The RICO Act was passed in 1970 in an effort to target criminal activities controlled by the mob at that time. RICO activities are delineated by 18 U.S. Code § 1963, which makes it a federal crime and also imposes civil penalties for someone engaging in a host of 35 different illegal activities as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. Major categories of these illegal activities include:
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Gambeling
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Bribery
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Kidnapping
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Murder
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Money Laundering
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Counterfeiting
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Embezzlement
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Drug Trafficking
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Slavery
To be eligible for prosecution under the RICO Act, the defendant must have committed two or more of the 35 predicate offenses within a span of 10 years. These offenses must also have been committed as part of a criminal enterprise that the defendant was involved with. This means that the individual cannot be operating by himself in the commission of a predicate offense for the RICO charges to attach. However, a defendant may be convicted under this statute based on activities that he engages in through a legitimate company. Due to the severe penalties for RICO Act violations, it is imperative to retain the services of a RICO defense attorney as soon as possible.

What are the Penalties for Being Convicted Under the RICO Statute?
The penalties for a conviction under the RICO Act can be as harsh as 20 years in federal prison. RICO penalties can also include civil penalties along with the seizure of assets by the federal government. The government is allowed to attach a defendant’s assets so that they cannot be hidden outside of the country before the prosecution begins.
Even if you are only facing RICO allegations as a part of a civil lawsuit, there is the potential for information that is obtained in that litigation to result in federal criminal charges. It is in your best interest to act quickly in retaining a trusted RICO attorney at the first instance you become aware of potential federal charges. The Criminal Center is ready and able to defend you against such criminal charges.