RICO Charges – Your Racketeering & Money Laundering Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Missouri.
RICO Charges as commonly referred to by those charged usually involve the illicit activities of a crime syndicate, or more legally accurate-a criminal enterprise. Racketeering is the common vernacular for the carrying out of illegal actions, such as extortion or money laundering, as part of the that criminal enterprise. Needless to say, RICO charges and the underlying racketeering actions are very serious federal crimes requiring knowledgeable and experienced legal counsel. These federal crimes necessarily carry severe federal sentences.
During the pinnacle days of the illicit crime syndicate, think Capone, the Mob, and Prohibition, racketeering found its genesis as a term to describe what these organizations were engaged in for purposes of facilitating their criminal objectives. The RICO Act was later created as a specific legal tool for addressing these activities in federal court.
In 1970, the present Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act “RICO Act” became the preeminent federal law for dismantling organized crime. RICO allows the federal government to charge anyone associated with a criminal enterprise with a serious federal offense, regardless of the significance of their personal involvement- so long as there existed some evidence of an agreement that certain acts were to be taken in furtherance of a defined criminal enterprise. RICO is a broad-based law designed to address almost all activities associated with an organization’s illegal activities.
Given the overwhelmingly complex nature of RICO Act cases involving Racketeering, employing appropriately experienced counsel is an absolute necessity. RICO Act cases involve large bodies of evidence, related criminal acts, such as money laundering, all requiring the legal acumen necessary to dissect the case in order to ascertain true culpability (guilt) or to extricate the client from the criminal enterprise as alleged by the Government. Counsel should also understand the applicable civil penalties associated with RICO cases as well as the ever-evolving case law surrounding these often high-profile federal criminal cases. Attorney John Lynch has the experience necessary to address these cases head-on, to build an articulate defense on your behalf, and to present your case in an intelligent manner.
Due to the all-encompassing nature of RICO ACT cases, some of the underlying predicate criminal acts a person charged may face include:
- Murder
- Assault
- Extortion
- Bribery
- Counterfeiting
- Money laundering
- Embezzlement
- Certain types of fraud
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Attorney John M. Lynch has extensive experience in defending clients against serious federal charges including RICO-racketeering, money laundering, conspiracy, Continued Criminal Enterprise (CCE) and related offenses. When facing federal charges, where the penalties are stiff and your reputation is at stake, you’ll need an attorney who is accustomed to this level of defense work.
Contact us today to see how we can help with your case. Your initial consultation is free.