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. In Tennessee, as in other states, federal RICO laws apply and can be enforced by federal law enforcement agencies. RICO makes it possible to hold leaders of criminal organizations accountable for crimes they directed others to commit or assisted in, even if they did not commit the crimes themselves. The law focuses on a variety of illegal activities, including but not limited to gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion, which may be conducted through legitimate businesses. The statute, particularly under 18 U.S.C. § 1962, outlines substantive offenses related to racketeering activity and conspiracy, while 18 U.S.C. § 1961 defines relevant terms. Penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1963 for violating RICO can include imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets derived from illegal activities. While RICO is a federal statute, Tennessee may also have state laws that address similar criminal conduct, but RICO itself provides a powerful tool for federal prosecutors to dismantle organized crime networks operating within the state.