{"id":376490,"date":"2018-08-20T12:04:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T17:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-racketeering-and-organized-crime-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-08-20T16:24:01","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T21:24:01","slug":"tennessee-racketeering-and-organized-crime-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/tennessee-law\/tennessee-racketeering-and-organized-crime-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Racketeering and Organized Crime Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tennessee Racketeering and Organized Crime Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The offense of racketeering is often used to describe criminal activities related to organized crime or drug trafficking<\/a>. While that’s true for many racketeering<\/a> violations, there are other ways to be charged with this crime. Simply put, racketeering generally involves the connection of various crimes through the operation of a criminal enterprise or outlet.<\/p>\r\n

Racketeering activities at the federal level are defined by federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)<\/a>, but racketeering crimes are prosecuted under state laws as well. In fact, many states model their own racketeering laws after the federal RICO laws and, because of this, state racketeering laws share many similarities among the states. However, a state may use its own unique definition for when racketeering exists. For instance, in Tennessee, the definition of racketeering specifically requires one’s association as a member of a gang<\/a> as a criminal enterprise.<\/p>\r\n

An Explanation of Tennessee Racketeering\/Organized Crime Laws<\/h2>\r\n

When you need a quick answer to a legal question it’s useful to read an explanation of the law written in simple language before reading the relevant statutes in their entirety. The following chart serves this purpose. Read on for a concise explanation of racketeering laws in Tennessee.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Tennessee Code Annotated:<\/p>\r\n

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Definitions<\/b><\/p>\r\n

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Tennessee’s "Pattern of Racketeering Activity"<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

This pattern requires at least 2 incidents of racketeering conduct that have the same or similar intents, results, victims, accomplices, or methods of commission, or which are otherwise interrelated by distinguished characteristics and aren’t isolated incidents and where:<\/p>\r\n

What’s Prohibited<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Unlawful Actions<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

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  • Receiving any proceeds derived from a pattern of racketeering activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt, to use to gain title to an interest in real or personal property or in the establishment or operation of any enterprise.<\/li>\r\n
  • Through a pattern of racketeering activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt, acquiring or maintaining an interest in or control of any enterprise of real or personal property.<\/li>\r\n
  • Being employed by, or associated with, any enterprise and knowingly conducting or participating in the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity or the collection of any unlawful debt.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Possible Penalties<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

The actual penalties will depend on the specific circumstances of your case, but will include factors such as your criminal history and the underlying racketeering activities.
\r\nPossible penalties may include the following:<\/p>\r\n