Introduction and History of the Statute

 

RICO: The Crime of Being A Criminal, Parts I & II (Lynch, 1987).

 

The Actual Law

 

18 U.S. Code, Chapter 96

 

The Simplicity of RICO

 

Watch the following videos on a RICO trial:

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/TransparentJustice/menu.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip01.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip02.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip03.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip04.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip05.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip06.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip07.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip08.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip09.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip10.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip11.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip12.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip13.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip14.html

 

http://video.franklin.edu/Franklin/CJAD/710/cjad710clip15.html

 

Questions for Students

 

1)   In what ways does the RICO statute combat organized crime?  

 

2)   Evaluate the RICO statute as it relates to its uses and its purpose.

 

3)  Predict what would happen if the U.S. government were to charge the following individuals under the RICO statute.  Go here.

 

4)  Identify the results of a successful RICO prosecution that you identify from independent research.

 

 

In 2022, in the trial of R&B singer “R. Kelly” racketeering charges were successful in his criminal enterprise that included illegal sex with minors, sexual exploitation of minors, bribery, coercion and forced labour.

 

The background to these offences and the involvement of others in frustrating the legal process, explains how it was considered to be an enterprise. However, the novelty of using RICO for sexual offences resulted in Kelly’s legal team claiming the use of these powers was inappropriate. 

 

These powers were also used in the trial of the rapper Young Thug.

 

What do you think about this new use of criminal justice powers?

 

 

 

References

 

18 U.S. Code, Chapter 96

 

Lynch, G. (1987).  RICO: The Crime of Being A Criminal, Parts I & II.  The Columbia Law Review, 87 Colum. L. Rev 661.

 

The Simplicity of RICO, (2009).  RICOACT.com, LLC.  Obtained viahttp://www.law.umn.edu/uploads/f2/21/f2214371567716ab8928a6c36c02de21/f09rico1.pdf