Definition

Proper noun: - Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act: A specific United States federal law designed to combat organized crime by providing for extended criminal penalties and civil causes of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

Usage

• The term "RICO Act" is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this piece of legislation. It is often used in legal, journalistic, and academic contexts when discussing prosecutions of organized crime, complex fraud, or other criminal enterprises.
• It is typically preceded by the definite article "the" (e.g., ).

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "RICO predicate acts": Refers to the specific criminal offenses (such as mail fraud, wire fraud, or extortion) that, when committed as part of a pattern, can form the basis for a RICO charge.
  • The indictment listed money laundering and bribery as the RICO predicate acts.
• "RICO case" or "RICO prosecution": Describes a legal case brought under the provisions of the RICO Act.
  • The high-profile RICO case resulted in the conviction of several corporate executives.

Variants and Related Words

• RICO (noun): A common abbreviation for the RICO Act, also used to describe a charge or case brought under this law.
  • He was found guilty of violating RICO.
• Racketeering (noun): The specific type of criminal activity, typically involving illegal business dealings, that the RICO Act is designed to prosecute.
  • The gang was involved in multiple racketeering schemes.

Synonyms

• Anti-racketeering law: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the law's purpose.
• Organized Crime Control Act: A broader, related term; the RICO Act is Title IX of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.

Related Phrases

• "To bring RICO charges": The act of prosecuting someone under the RICO Act.
  • The federal authorities decided to bring RICO charges against the network.
• "RICO violation": An instance of breaking the RICO Act.
  • Conspiring to commit fraud can constitute a RICO violation.

Noun

1. law intended to eradicate organized crime by establishing strong sanctions and forfeiture provisions