RICO Charges in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh RICO Lawyers

INFORMATION ON THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS (RICO) ACT

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, as it is more commonly known, was enacted in 1970 as a means of bringing organized crime bosses to justice.

Typically, the heads of these organizations would give orders to lesser members. Those taking orders thus committed an individual crime, would be prosecuted individually, but law enforcement had trouble getting to those who were in charge of all the criminal activity. Without the ability to stop those at the top, organized crime circuits would run perpetually—simply replacing the lower members with new recruits.

Then came RICO. Essentially aimed at the mob or mafia in its origin, the federal government comprised a list of thirty-five crimes that could be compiled and charged to all members of a criminal organization.

While monumental in its time for taking or complex crime syndicates, it is still used today—in a much broader form. If you are convicted under RICO, the penalties are some of the most severe of any crimes.

To defend yourself against RICO charges or if you think you are under investigation for RICO, talk to an experienced RICO attorney in Pennsylvania  who is capable of handling a variety of criminal charges in both state and federal court. These cases are often extremely complex and require a dedicated and well-prepared defense attorney.

An Arrest is Not a Conviction. 

At Ketchel Law, we are well-versed in both state and federal court systems and can help you understand your rights and your options to fight against your charges. Our Federal Crime Attorneys are experienced and aggressive—our number one goal is to have your charges reduced significantly or dropped altogether.

If you were indicted on RICO charges, or think you may be charged or are under investigation, contact Attorney Justin J. Ketchel immediately for a free case evaluation.

OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL: GETTING YOUR CRIMINAL CHARGES DISMISSED.

Call 412-456-1221 for a free consultation

PITTSBURGH FEDERAL CRIME LAWYERS

CRIMES AND REQUIREMENTS OF RICO

RICO is a compilation of thirty-five crimes that can be compiled and prosecuted together against members of an entire organization. This means that even if you were not the one committing the crime, if you are a participant in a criminal organization, you can be charged along with any and all counterparts.

In order to be charged under RICO, there must be at least two of the thirty-five crimes committed by an enterprise in a period of ten years. An enterprise is a group of people who are working together to benefit the same cause.

RICO is not used against an individual, or even several individuals, who may have committed two of the thirty-five crimes on their own accord. RICO is strictly enforced against organizations that commit crimes as part of their business.

Some of the most common of the thirty-five crimes of RICO include:

CALL KETCHEL LAW NOW FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION AT 412-456-1221.

OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL: GETTING YOUR CHARGES DISMISSED.

PENALTIES IF CONVICTED UNDER RICO

If you are convicted, you face very harsh penalties. In fact, you can be convicted and therefore subjected to the criminal penalties and also face civil penalties if the victim(s) of your crimes choose to sue you personally.

For criminal convictions under RICO you face a penalty of:

  • Up to 20 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. In addition, you will be required to forfeit and all financial gain and business interest gained through racketeering.

For civil penalties, anyone who is directly affected by your RICO violations can file a claim in civil court. In order to do so, they must prove a pattern of criminal activity occurred and the injury sustained by the actions. There is a four year statute of limitations on said civil claims.

It is important to note that penalties may begin before you are actually convicted of RICO violations. When you are charged, prosecutors are able to seek authorization through the courts to freeze all assets that they believe were obtained through illegal acts. Therefore, you may not have access to money, property, or other necessary assets during an already difficult time. This may affect your ability to hire effective defense counsel and is also likely to impact your family.

If you are under investigation, or have been charged with RICO violations, you should not let any time pass before you hire qualified and experienced representation. They will be your best chance at protecting your rights, your freedom, and your property.

How Ketchel Law Can Help Fight Your RICO Charges

We will stick with you from start to finish.

From the moment you engage Ketchel Law to represent you, we will work tirelessly to ensure every aspect of your defense is addressed at every phase. We will make certain you understand your rights and options so that you are prepared at every turn. From pre-trial hearings through the trial and beyond, we will fight to have your charges dropped or significantly reduced.

With vast differences between state and federal cases, it is extremely important that you have a knowledgeable and experienced federal crimes attorney on your side. We understand what you are going through and will tirelessly fight on your behalf to ensure that your arrest has a minimal impact on every aspect of your life.

An aggressive and meticulous attorney will gather all evidence and facts about your case, presenting your history to make the best possible defense.

We will attempt to discredit evidence not in your favor and work closely with you to find the best course of action in defending your rights and your freedom.

Learn more about White Collar Crimes:

Learn more about Ketchel Law:

CALL KETCHEL LAW NOW FOR A FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION AT 412-456-1221.

OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL: GETTING YOUR CHARGES DISMISSED.