Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly referred to as RICO Act or RICO) is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. RICO was enacted by section 901(a) of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. RICO is codified as Chapter 96 of Title 18 of the United States Code, 18 U.S.C.
1961 1968. While its intended use was to prosecute the Mafia as well as others who were actively engaged in organized crime, its application has been more widespread. It has been speculated that the name and acronym were selected in a sly reference to the movie Little Caesar, which featured a notorious gangster named Rico. The original drafter of the bill, G. Robert Blakey, refused to confirm or deny this.