RICO Commons^™

Systemic Racial Bias And Rico's Application To Criminal Street And Prison Gangs, Jordan Blair Woods

Michigan Journal of Race and Law

This Article presents an empirical study of race and the application of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to criminal street and prison gangs. A strong majority (approximately 86%) of the prosecutions in the study involved gangs that were affiliated with one or more racial minority groups. All but one of the prosecuted White-affiliated gangs fell into three categories: international organized crime groups, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and White supremacist prison gangs. Some scholars and practitioners would explain these findings by contending that most criminal street gangs are comprised of racial minorities. This Article challenges and problematizes this ...

Criminalizing Yakuza Membership: A Comparative Study Of The Anti-Boryokudan Law

Washington University Global Studies Law Review

Originating in Japan and operating across the globe, the Yakuza are regarded as some of the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations. Yakuza gangs operate a wide variety of illegal revenue-generating activities ranging from securities fraud to traditional extortion of civilians. These hierarchical criminal organizations are classified under Japanese Law as boryokudan (violence groups). As of 2010, the National Police Agency identified 22 boryokudan groups operating in Japan.

In July 2011, the United States Department of State included the Yakuza on a list of four transnational criminal organizations that “facilitate and aggravate violent civil conflicts.” Pursuant to this order, in ...

Rico Civil Fraud Action In Context: Reflections On Bennett V. Berg, G. Robert Blakey

Journal Articles

In Bennett v. Berg, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, as a matter of "first impression in the Circuit Courts of Appeals," faced and resolved a number of significant issues in the construction of Title IX, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (hereinafter "RICO") provisions of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. In Bennett, the plaintiffs, residents in a "life care" retirement village, sought treble damages and equitable relief under 18 U.S.C. § 1964 from a number of defendants, including named individuals, a not-for-profit corporation, the John Knox Village, attorneys, accountants, the firm of ...

Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (Rico): Basic Concepts - Criminal And Civil Remedies, G. Robert Blakey, Brian Gettings

Journal Articles

This article will present a brief overview of the legislative history of RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, and its structure, including its standards and basic concepts. The article will then consider the criminal sanctions authorized under RICO and discuss specific aspects of the RICO civil suit as well as some of the problems that may be expected to arise in it. The objective of the article is to provide the reader with a short introduction to RICO, one of the most sophisticated statutes ever enacted by Congress.

"On The Waterfront": Rico And Labor Racketeering, G. Robert Blakey, Ronald Goldstock

Journal Articles

Labor racketeering in America is a pervasive, persistent problem not easily controlled by conventional criminal statutes. The authors examine the applicability of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO) to the problem of labor racketeering and look at the recent case of United States v. Scotto as an example of the Act's application in this area. The authors conclude that to the extent that it is used appropriately and with discretion, RICO provides the flexibility to be an important law enforcement tool against labor racketeers.

Behind The Words: Interpreting The Hobbs Act Requirement Of "Obtaining Of Property From Another", 36 J. Marshall L. Rev. 295 (2003), Kristal S. Stippich

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rico, Merger, And Double Jeopardy, Earle A. Partington

Seattle University Law Review

This Article will examine RICO as it has been interpreted by the United States Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States in an effort to determine the effects that merger and double jeopardy have had in the past, and should have in the future, upon RICO prosecutions. Because the doc- trines of merger and double jeopardy are criminal law principles, only the criminal aspects of RICO will be examined. Initially, this Article will explore the purpose and history of RICO and examine the doctrines of merger and double jeopardy and their application to RICO indictments and ...

State Jurisdiction Over Interstate Telephonic Criminal Conspiracy

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

White Collar Crime: A Legal Overview, Paul Marcus

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Time-Bars: Rico-Criminal And Civil Federal And State, G. Robert Blakey

Notre Dame Law Review

The article discusses the role of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in criminal proceedings. The Act considers several provisions including illegal services of drugs and gambling, corruption in labor or management relations, and commercial fraud such as bankruptcy and securities fraud. The Act applies criminal and civil sanctions including fines and imprisonment, forfeiture, and treble damage relief for persons who injured in business due to violation of law.