{"id":376666,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:55","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-racketeering-rico-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-02-28T14:49:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-28T19:49:00","slug":"texas-racketeering-rico-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-racketeering-rico-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Racketeering \/ RICO Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Texas Racketeering \/ RICO 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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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\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

They say that everything’s big in Texas. Criminal organizations are no exception. Texas racketeering and RICO laws have been developed in order to put a stop to gangs and other kinds of organized criminal activities. The following chart provides an overview of these laws including links to the statute and other relevant information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Statute<\/b><\/td>\r\nTexas Organized Crime Statute<\/a> (Penal Code, Title 11, Chapter 71, Section 71.02)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Elements of Racketeering and RICO Offenses<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Racketeering is a violation of federal laws and Texas state law. Racketeering<\/a> is the criminal act of engaging in illegal business or acts run as part of organized crime. RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organization) laws make it illegal for criminal organizations (i.e. the mafia, or other like-minded criminal organizations) to profit from other legitimate businesses (i.e. extortion<\/a>) or to run their own legitimate businesses. The goal is to stop the flow of income to criminal organizations that ultimately use the profits to fund their illegal activities.<\/p>\r\n

Example:<\/b> A criminal organization forced local businesses on a particular street block to make weekly payments to them in exchange for "protection" from crimes against their business such as vandalism or robberies. The "protection" offered is really protection from members of their own organization who, if not paid, would commit crimes against these businesses and threaten their livelihoods.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Defenses Against Racketeering\/RICO Charges<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Depending on the actual crime involved the defenses will vary and are specific to any given crime. Some additional defenses that may be available are:<\/p>\r\n

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  • The defendant was not a member of the criminal organization<\/li>\r\n
  • The defendant did not have knowledge that his actions were furthering the agenda of a criminal organization<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Penalties and Sentences<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Texas Racketeering and RICO laws administer harsh penalties for violations. For any offense in which a person is engaging in organized criminal activity, the offense is classified as one charge higher than the most serious offense that was committed. For example, if the crime committed would at its most serious level be a "Class A" misdemeanor, it would be a state jail felony under this law due to the engagement in organized criminal activity. The only exception is that if the charge for the most serious offense would be a first degree felony, it will remain a first degree felony.<\/p>\r\n

Example:<\/b> If Bob is a member of a crime organization and committed a burglary of a home, he would be charged with a first degree felony since burglarizing a home normally carries a charge of second degree felony.<\/p>\r\n

If the defendant conspired to commit a crime with a criminal organization, the charge will remain the same as the most serious charge offered for the crime the defendant conspired<\/a> to commit.<\/p>\r\n

Example:<\/b> As above, if Bob conspired to commit a burglary of a home, but never actually committed the burglary, the charge would be a second degree felony. Since the crime normally carries a charge of second degree felony if committed outside the context of a criminal organization, when placed in the context of a criminal organization, merely conspiring to commit this crime will carry the same charge.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Note:<\/b> State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Related Resources:<\/h2>\r\n