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 ongoing criminal enterprises. Under RICO, individuals in Kentucky, as in other states, can be prosecuted for participating in, aiding, or leading a criminal organization, even if they did not personally commit the criminal acts, as long as they were involved in the operation or management of the organization. The law is broad in scope, covering a variety of potential illegal activities, including but not limited to gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion. RICO is particularly significant because it allows for the leaders of criminal organizations to be held accountable for the actions of their subordinates, thereby addressing the higher levels of organized crime. Penalties under RICO can be severe, including imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets. While RICO is a federal statute, it can be applied to criminal activities that occur within Kentucky, and it complements state laws that target similar criminal conduct.