Legal Definitions - pattern of racketeering activity

A pattern of racketeering activity refers to two or more related criminal acts that either amount to or pose a threat of continued criminal activity. This term comes from the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Racketeering is a system of organized crime that typically involves extorting money from businesses through intimidation, violence, or other illegal methods. It can also refer to a pattern of illegal activity, such as bribery, extortion, fraud, and murder, carried out as part of an enterprise owned or controlled by those engaged in the illegal activity.

For example, a group of individuals may engage in a pattern of racketeering activity by extorting money from local businesses, committing fraud, and engaging in illegal gambling. These criminal acts are related and pose a threat of continued criminal activity.

The federal RICO statute greatly broadened the definition of racketeering activity to include activities such as mail fraud and securities fraud. This means that individuals or organizations engaging in these types of criminal activity can also be charged with racketeering.