This can include anything from murder or arson, to kidnapping and drug dealing. Criminal RICO Casesįor the authorities to charge a person with a RICO violation, he must have taken part in racketeering activity related to some sort of business. Just like any other case, there are different requirements when it comes to prosecuting criminal RICO vs. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our law firm and the cases we handle.When it comes to prosecuting RICO crimes, there are actually RICO Law examples of criminal cases, and RICO Law examples of civil cases, too. We will go over your charges and help you pursue the best possible outcome in your case. They have dedicated their careers to helping clients fight for their innocence and freedom.Ĭontact us here or at 71 for a no-cost and no-obligation consultation. Houston RICO charge defense attorneys at Vinas & Graham, PLLC, have more than 30 years of legal experience in federal and state criminal law matters. Contact A Houston RICO Charge Defense Attorney Even if you believe that prosecutors have the evidence they need for a conviction, your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors to work out a potential plea bargain in your favor. Other defenses include mistaken identity, no pattern of racketeering activity, no impact on interstate commerce, or you were not associated with the enterprise. If so, evidence collected in violation of your constitutional rights may be thrown out by the judge in your case. When investigating your case, your attorney will also examine law enforcement conduct to determine if your rights were violated. It can be argued that a loose association of alleged criminals does not meet the definition of a criminal enterprise. For example, your attorney might argue that the prosecution does not have enough evidence to support a conviction.Īnother common defense to RICO charges is that there was no criminal enterprise. Depending on your case circumstances, you may be able to raise one or more defenses. You have the right to a fair trial and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Defenses To A RICO ChargeĪs mentioned above, RICO charges do not automatically become convictions. Participated in or conducted a pattern of racketeering activity within the enterpriseĪs you can see, a RICO charge does not involve only one type of criminal activity.The defendant was associated with the enterprise, and.The enterprise impacted interstate commerce,.In general, to prove RICO charges, prosecutors must demonstrate the following: Today, RICO laws are used to prosecute a wide variety of criminal activities, such as money laundering, bribery, witness tampering, trafficking, theft, murder, and fraud. This act was created to make it easier to take down criminal organizations by prosecuting members of criminal enterprises for racketeering activities even if they did not carry out the illegal offenses. RICO laws were enacted in 1970 to combat organized crime by giving prosecutors the authority to charge leaders of an organization with crimes that they ordered others to commit. RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. Contact our office to schedule a consultation. We know that our clients rely on our legal skills and dedication, and we are committed to providing them with unmatched legal services. However, RICO charges do not necessarily have to result in convictions, especially when you have an experienced criminal defense attorney.Īttorneys at Vinas & Graham, PLLC, defend clients who have been charged with federal crimes in Texas, including RICO violations. These allegations are serious, and the penalties for a conviction are severe. Are you facing RICO charges in Texas? If so, you might be wondering if it’s possible to beat a RICO charge.
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