Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Possible Penalties
One may be found guilty of a felony, put in prison up to life, and ordered to pay $250,000, or twice the gross amount of monies gained from participating in illegal activities, whichever amount is found to be greater.
Most often, the prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) will obtain a Federal Indictment from a Federal Grand Jury and charge a defendant not only with RICO crimes, but also with mail, wire or bank fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, drug crimes, and/or conspiracy/collusion to commit the previously mentioned crimes. One should also be aware that since 1987 parole has been extinguished in the Federal System. Expungement, which is the removal of conviction from public records, is also not available.