Top Hamilton, OH RICO Lawyers Near You
Our nationwide team of defense lawyers includes a former U.S. Attorney, four former Federal Prosecutors, two former FBI agents and two former Army JAGS.
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
Fed Trouble? Free Consult. Former Prosecutor & Team Former Federal Agents. Call/Text 24/7. Immediate Response Guaranteed!
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
The Citadel, 114 East Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Assisting people in Hamilton with their Ohio RICO issues.
Free Consultation
8750 Union Centre Blvd, West Chester Township, OH 45069
In Hamilton, Ohio, Meadows Law Firm, a local practice, helps clients with their RICO problem.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
600 Vine Street, Suite 2500, Cincinnati, OH 45202
201 East Fourth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, OH 45202
233 East Main Street, Suite #3, Batavia, OH 45103
312 Elm Street, Suite 1850, Cincinnati, OH 45202
425 Walnut Street, Suite 1800, Cincinnati, OH 45202
312 Walnut Street, Suite 3200, Cincinnati, OH 45202
810 Sycamore Street, Floor 3, Cincinnati, OH 45202
201 East Fifth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, OH 45202
9277 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 300, West Chester, OH 45069
600 Vine Street, Suite 2700, Cincinnati, OH 45202
One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400, Cincinnati, OH 45202
201 E. Fifth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, OH 45202
625 Eden Park Dr, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45202
1244 Nilles Road, Suite 9, Fairfield, OH 45014
8 W 9th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
301 East Fourth Street, Suite 3500 Great American Tower, Cincinnati, OH 45202
15 East 8th Street, Suite 2E, Cincinnati, OH 45202
255 East Fifth Street, 2800 First Financial Center, Cincinnati, OH 45202
125 E Court St, Suite 1000, Cincinnati, OH 45202
312 Walnut Street, Suite 2000, Cincinnati, OH 45202
312 Walnut St, Suite 1400, Cincinnati, OH 45202
312 Walnut Street, Suite 2450, Cincinnati, OH 45202
250 East Fifth Street, Suite 2200, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Hamilton RICO Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies RICO attorneys in Hamilton and checks their standing with Ohio bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is a RICO Violation?
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act was enacted in 1970 to address organized crime. Under RICO laws, anyone associated with the criminal group could be charged, including organization leaders who ordered or oversaw the criminal activity without directly taking part. RICO also provided for civil remedies and triple damages to recover unlawful gains.
How Do I Get a RICO Charge?
A RICO charge generally involves participation in a “criminal enterprise” with a “pattern of racketeering activity.” To get a RICO charge, the prosecutor must suspect you were involved in a criminal gang or group and the criminal activity involved more than a one-time event. Initially, RICO was used to go after organized crime and the Mafia. However, since the law went into effect, it has been used to indict a number of alleged criminal enterprises, including street gangs, motorcycle gangs, corporations, and police departments
The RICO Act also makes it a violation to conspire to commit racketeering offenses. Conspiracy to violate RICO charges means that someone can be charged and convicted even if the crime was never carried out. A conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, with some overt act towards furthering the offense.
What Does the RICO Act Cover?
A “pattern of racketeering activity” requires at least two qualifying acts, within a period of ten years. The RICO Act has included several crimes that qualify as racketeering activity, including state and federal offenses. Acts of racketeering can include:
- Illegal gambling
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Extortion
- Arson
- Robbery
- Bribery
- Dealing in obscene matter
- Drug offenses
- Counterfeiting
- Theft
- Embezzlement
- Fraud
- Witness tampering
- Human trafficking
- Money laundering
- Murder-for-hire
- Loan-sharking
- Terrorism
- Mail fraud
- Wire fraud
- Securities fraud
How Serious Is a RICO Charge?
A RICO charge is a serious criminal offense that carries the possibility of jail time, fines, and seizure of assets. RICO charges are federal felony charges that include imprisonment for up to 20 years or more. In addition to prison penalties, there are severe financial penalties, which include forfeiture of any interest, security, or property derived from racketeering activity.
There are also civil penalties under RICO. A violation of the RICO Act could include ordering the defendant to turn over financial or business interests, restrict future activities, and break up organizations. Civil remedies can also require restitution to any victims of the criminal offenses.
How Do You Beat a RICO Case?
When federal prosecutors charge someone with RICO offenses, the penalties can include years in federal prison and loss of your financial assets. However, you may have a strong legal case to beat RICO charges. Legal defenses may include challenging the prosecutor’s case to show there was no criminal enterprise and no pattern of criminal activity.
Even if you were involved in criminal activity, it has to be a pattern of racketeering. If there is only evidence of one crime, the defendant should not be convicted under RICO. Alternatively, committing a crime on your own without participation in a criminal organization may be another defense strategy.
Prosecutors may rely on the seriousness of RICO charges to get the defendant to plead guilty to other charges instead of facing the increased RICO penalties. However, before you plead guilty to criminal charges, you should consider talking to a criminal defense attorney for legal advice.