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), codified as 18 U.S.C. § 1961 and subsequent sections, is a federal law that targets organized crime by enabling the prosecution of criminal activities performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. In Maryland, as in all states, federal RICO statutes apply and are enforced by federal law enforcement agencies. RICO allows for the leaders of criminal organizations to be prosecuted for crimes they directed others to commit or assisted in committing, in relation to the criminal enterprise. This includes a range of activities such as gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, or extortion, even if these activities are masked by seemingly legitimate businesses like laundry services or restaurants. The law also includes provisions for severe criminal penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets derived from or used in the criminal enterprise. While RICO is a federal law, Maryland law enforcement can cooperate with federal agencies in the investigation and prosecution of RICO violations.