RICO Act Crimes Defence Attorneys
Under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as the RICO act, the law provides for ways that the courts will deal with organized crime, the mafia, gangs, drug operations, and even some otherwise legitimate companies that are somehow involved in criminal activities. Companies or entities that are involved can have their reputations tarnished, sometimes permanently. They can be roped into criminal charges that they weren’t really a part of, leading to stiff penalties such as fines and even lengthy prison sentences.
As you can imagine, those who are faced with RICO charges of any type have quite a hill to climb when it comes to defending themselves in court, especially when you consider that charges often can and do compound in situations such as these, leading to individuals sometimes spending years or even decades of their lives behind bars. The right legal counsel can really end up being the difference between spending the rest of your life in prison or having your charges reduced or even dropped without you even having to step foot into a courtroom.
Contents
What Crimes Are Covered Under the RICO Act?
As with many other federal crimes, the RICO act in reality is an umbrella that covers a wide variety of criminal acts. Just some of the crimes that are included under this statute are things like drug offenses, security fraud, bribery, illegal gambling, and others. In order to convict, prosecutors have to prove that the defendant committed at least two of the crimes listed there, or two counts of the same crime, all within a set period of time.
What is RICO Conspiracy?
Conspiracy to somehow violate the RICO act is another crime that defendants can be charged with. It might seem like this could instead fall under the general federal statute of criminal conspiracy, but there are a few key differences that separate the two charges.
One of the biggest differences lies in the objective of the conspiracy. In a regular federal conspiracy case, all of the defendants have to agree to and work toward a single objective. However, in a RICO case, the defendants can be working towards separate objectives and still be charged as a group. So for instance, one defendant could’ve been trying to engage in racketeering while another was bribing an official or committing some other type of fraud. Even so, they could all be charged in the same case.
Another important point to make here is that every conspirator does not need to know what other conspirators were doing in order to be successfully convicted of the RICO conspiracy. On top of that, no actual crime even needs to be committed. It’s agreeing on the crime that constitutes a crime. For these reasons and many more, prosecutors will often turn to charges of RICO conspiracy, especially if they’re not able to successfully pursue other charges.
Consequences of a RICO Conspiracy Charge
The criminal penalties for a charge of RICO conspiracy can be quite severe. Along with the potential for steep fines, defendants can also expect to face around 20 years in prison, with some defendants even facing life in prison, depending on the charge involved. Funds and properties can also be forfeited, and fines can easily reach $500,000 in some cases.
When you add onto this the fact that prosecutors can and often do add multiple charges to a single defendant, with each charge carrying the possibility of years if not decades of prison time, it’s abundantly clear that anyone facing criminal charges related to RICO conspiracy need to secure competent legal representation immediately.
Who Can I Turn to For My Defense?
When it comes to finding the right legal representation for you, there is a wide variety of defense attorneys and legal firms for you to choose from. It’s already an overwhelming situation to be brought up on criminal charges at the federal level, so when you then add to that the stress of having to find an attorney who can get you the help that you need, it would be much easier if the choice was just a little clearer.
It’s not enough for a legal firm to have experience defending cases in court. Even if they have years of experience at the state level, for instance, the federal court system is quite different, and the penalties, prison sentences, and stakes are far higher there. On top of that, you want to know that the attorney or legal firm that you’ve chosen has a proven track record of success and can take the time and effort necessary to successfully represent you and defend your case.
Talk to the Expert RICO Act Crimes Attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group
The Norman Spencer Law Group has a combined 70+ years of experience defending all types of cases, including ones that are just like yours. There’s no case too big, no case too small. When you need help, just call the Norman Spencer Law Group. When you choose Norman Spencer, you’re choosing a group of defense attorneys who focus on 1:1 service for every single client. What that means for you is that your success is our priority.
That starts with our accessibility options. We have the ability to host remote legal consultations through popular platforms like Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo. Also, if you need someone to come to you, we can make that happen, no matter where you might be in the country. So if you’re facing any sort of legal trouble, get in touch with the Norman Spencer Law Group today. A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible and get started on getting you the help that you need and deserve.