The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is U.S. federal law designed to combat organized crime and ongoing criminal enterprises. It allows authorities to investigate, prosecute, and take action against individuals or groups involved in a pattern of illegal activities such as money laundering, bribery, or fraud. RICO enables prosecutors to charge all members of a criminal organization collectively, rather than just individuals who commit specific crimes, and can lead to severe penalties including long prison sentences and asset forfeiture. Its purpose is to dismantle entire criminal networks by addressing their widespread, systematic illegal conduct.