Legal Definitions - Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)

Definition: RICO is a law made by the federal government that gives harsher punishments for people who are part of a criminal organization. It also allows people who have been hurt by the organization to sue them in court.

Example: A group of people start a gang and use it to sell drugs, commit robberies, and extort money from businesses. They are all part of a criminal organization. If they get caught, they could be charged with RICO and face longer prison sentences and bigger fines.

Example: A company is illegally dumping toxic waste into a river. The people who work for the company know about it and help cover it up. They are all part of a criminal organization. If they get caught, they could be charged with RICO and the people who were hurt by the toxic waste could sue them in court.

These examples show how RICO can be used to punish people who are part of a criminal organization and to help people who have been hurt by the organization get justice.