The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, (RICO), provides for ways for the government to deal with organized crime, as well as otherwise legitimate companies involved in criminal activities. RICO crimes can destroy or tarnish the reputations of individuals or companies.
Individuals facing RICO charges have quite a hill to climb when it comes to defending themselves in court. Especially, when you consider that RICO charges carry draconian penalties such as years or even decades behind bars. The right lawyer can really make the difference between prison and freedom. At Norman Spencer Law Group, our goal is to achieve the optimal results for our client, no matter what it takes.
What Types of Crimes Does RICO Cover?
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 violate the RICO act is another crime that defendants can face. 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 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 Crimes 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 to Turn to for RICO Crimes Defense
There is no shortage of defense attorneys and law firms for you to choose from. It’s already an overwhelming situation to be brought up on federal criminal charges. So, when you 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 law firm to have experience defending cases in court. Many lawyers have years of experience at the state level. That just won’t do. The federal court system is quite different. The penalties, prison sentences, and stakes are far higher there. You need to know that your attorney has a proven track record of success in cases like yours. You want to know that they have the time and resources to successfully represent you and defend your case.
The Norman Spencer Law Group Can Help
The Norman Spencer Law Group has years of experience defending federal criminal cases. There’s no case too big, no case too complex. When you choose us, you’re choosing a group of defense attorneys who focus on one-on-one 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.
We can help you 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. We will get back to you today and help you!
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