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 statute that targets organized crime by enabling the prosecution of criminal activities performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. In Virginia, as in all states, RICO is applicable as a federal law and is not specific to Virginia state statutes. Under RICO, individuals in positions of authority within criminal organizations can be prosecuted for crimes they directed others to commit or aided in committing, in the context of the criminal enterprise. This includes a range of illegal activities such as gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion, even if these activities are masked by seemingly legitimate businesses. The law is detailed in 18 U.S.C. § 1961-1968, with § 1961 providing definitions, § 1962 outlining the prohibited activities and offenses, and § 1963 specifying the penalties, which can include imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets derived from the criminal conduct. While RICO is a federal law, Virginia law enforcement agencies and attorneys may work in conjunction with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute RICO violations.