The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act—commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO—is a federal law that provides for criminal prosecution of racketeering activities as part of an ongoing criminal organization. 18 U.S.C. §1961. RICO is designed to address the infiltration of legitimate business enterprises by organized crime and other illegal ventures—such as laundry services, retail stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and labor unions—to commit gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, or extortion.

Under RICO, leaders of criminal organizations can be held liable for crimes they order others to commit, or assist them in committing, in furtherance of the ongoing criminal organization. Section 1962 sets forth three substantive offenses and makes it a crime to conspire to commit any of the three substantive offenses. Section 1961 provides definitions for terms used in the RICO statute. And section 1963 establishes criminal penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and criminal forfeiture.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is a federal law that targets organized crime by allowing for the prosecution of individuals involved in racketeering activities as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. This includes a variety of illegal activities such as gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion, which may infiltrate legitimate businesses. In Illinois, as in other states, RICO is used to prosecute individuals who lead or are part of criminal organizations, holding them accountable for crimes they directed or assisted in, even if they did not personally execute the criminal act. The law, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1961-1968, defines racketeering activity, outlines the prohibited activities, and specifies the penalties for violations, which can include imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets. While RICO is a federal statute, Illinois may also have state laws that address similar criminal conduct, but RICO itself provides a powerful tool for federal prosecutors to dismantle organized crime networks operating within the state.