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 criminal enterprises engaging in racketeering activities. It is designed to combat organized crime's infiltration into legitimate businesses and to hold leaders of these organizations accountable for their involvement in various illegal activities, even if they did not personally commit the acts. In Maine, as in all states, federal RICO statutes apply and can be enforced by federal law enforcement agencies. Under RICO, individuals in positions of authority within criminal organizations can be prosecuted for crimes they directed others to commit or helped in committing, in relation to the criminal enterprise. The law outlines specific offenses under Section 1962, provides definitions in Section 1961, and details the penalties for RICO violations, including imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets, under Section 1963. While RICO is a federal law, Maine law enforcement can cooperate with federal agencies in the investigation and prosecution of RICO offenses.