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.

In Michigan, as in all states, 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. The law is codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1961 and subsequent sections. RICO is particularly focused on the infiltration of legitimate businesses by criminal organizations for the purpose of conducting illegal activities such as gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, or extortion. Under RICO, leaders of these organizations can be prosecuted for crimes they directed others to commit or helped in committing, in the context of the criminal enterprise. The law outlines substantive offenses in Section 1962 and defines key terms in Section 1961. Section 1963 prescribes the penalties for RICO violations, which can include imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets. While RICO is a federal statute, Michigan law enforcement and prosecutors often work in conjunction with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute RICO violations that occur within the state.