The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act—commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO—is a federal law that provides for criminal prosecution of racketeering activities as part of an ongoing criminal organization. 18 U.S.C. §1961. RICO is designed to address the infiltration of legitimate business enterprises by organized crime and other illegal ventures—such as laundry services, retail stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and labor unions—to commit gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, or extortion.

Under RICO, leaders of criminal organizations can be held liable for crimes they order others to commit, or assist them in committing, in furtherance of the ongoing criminal organization. Section 1962 sets forth three substantive offenses and makes it a crime to conspire to commit any of the three substantive offenses. Section 1961 provides definitions for terms used in the RICO statute. And section 1963 establishes criminal penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and criminal forfeiture.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is a federal law that targets organized crime by allowing for the prosecution of individuals involved in racketeering activities as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. In Connecticut, as in all states, RICO is applicable and can be used to prosecute individuals who participate in the operation or management of a criminal organization, even if they did not personally commit the predicate crimes. Under RICO, individuals in positions of authority within a criminal organization can be held accountable for ordering or assisting in the commission of crimes related to the enterprise. The law defines racketeering activity broadly to include a variety of offenses such as gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion, and it applies to legitimate businesses that are used as fronts for such activities. Violations of RICO can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets derived from or used in the criminal enterprise. While RICO is a federal statute, Connecticut law enforcement can work in conjunction with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute RICO violations.