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 Wyoming, as in all states, federal RICO laws apply and can be enforced by federal law enforcement agencies and prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office. RICO allows for the leaders of criminal organizations to be prosecuted for crimes they directed others to commit or assisted in, even if they did not commit the crimes themselves. The law is comprehensive, covering a wide range of criminal activities, including but not limited to gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, and extortion. The statute is codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1961-1968, with § 1961 providing definitions, § 1962 outlining the prohibited activities and offenses, and § 1963 detailing the penalties for RICO violations, which can include imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of assets derived from or used in the criminal enterprise. While RICO is a federal law, states like Wyoming may have their own laws addressing similar criminal conduct, but RICO specifically is used to prosecute crimes that affect interstate or foreign commerce, thereby falling under federal jurisdiction.