Trial Lawyers Relentlessly Pursuing Justice
Los Angeles RICO Defense Attorneys
When it comes to defending RICO allegations, there is little room for error. Contacting a RICO attorney from our firm is a necessity in such severe and complicated legal proceedings. Don’t be misled into believing you can’t be affected by racketeering charges.
Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP is prepared to handle RICO violations and any additional crimes involved.
Understanding RICO Charges
Although the RICO Act, or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, was created in order to target the Mafia and other criminal organizations, it has become a commonly used federal crime. Racketeering activity no longer means that crime syndicates are involved. Any individual or participant in an enterprise can be charged with racketeering based on various circumstances and violations of federal law.
What is Racketeering?
Today, RICO can prosecute any member of an enterprise for racketeering if the organization has committed any two of 35 crimes within a 10 year period, regardless of affiliations to organized crime. Some of the crimes defined as racketeering activity by 18 U.S.C. Section 1961 can include: any number of white collar crimes, such as tax fraud, embezzlement, bankruptcy fraud and money laundering, various forms of federal drug crimes, robbery, theft, extortion, bribery and others.
RICO charges have been filed against such prominent organizations as the Key West Police Department, Major League Baseball, Hells Angels, and the Catholic Church. It is evident that an organization does not need to be a criminal syndicate in order to face racketeering charges. For instance, in 2006, flooring manufacturer Mohawk Industries was prosecuted under the RICO act for hiring illegal immigrants, a violation of one of the 35 racketeering activity laws.
RICO and Enhanced Penalties in Los Angeles
Violating RICO laws can bring about some of the most stringent punishments in the federal justice system. RICO charges penalize convicts by greatly enhancing the penalties of other crimes committed. Fines and prison sentences under RICO have been referred to as the “nuclear bomb” for federal prosecutors. Some organizations, such as the National Federation of Independent Business, have even gone as far as the U.S. Supreme Court in challenging RICO laws as excessively abusive.
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Supportive with Clients. Aggressive in Court.
Navigating the legal system can be complicated. To maximize your chance of securing the best outcome possible, it is essential that you reach out to us without delay. When you hire our firm, we will work quickly to gather every detail, examine every piece of evidence, and build a strong case.
We will not hesitate to go toe-to-toe in trial with an insurance company, corporation, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer. Regardless of the type of situation you are involved in, rest assured that we will do everything we can to protect your rights and help you secure the most favorable result possible.
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The Lessem, Newstat & Tooson Team
Our Clients Are Our Focus.
When facing complex legal matters, it is not uncommon to encounter an issue that needs immediate attention from your team.
For this reason, we are available to assist our clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure any questions or concerns you may have will be addressed immediately. With around the clock service and multiple office locations, clients throughout Southern California can be confident knowing our counsel is available to them whenever and wherever they need it.
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