Organized crime at one time referred to the mafia or "mob."   The Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was originally designed to attack and prosecute business organizations that were mob controlled.   However, since its inception, RICO and RICO-type prosecutions have expanded far beyond traditional mob-influenced enterprises.  Whenever two or more individuals, acting through or by means of a corporation, partnership, association or other enterprise, engage in criminal activity, they may be subject to prosecution in both state and federal court under RICO and other organized crime statutes.   You, your business and your business associates may be subject to serious organized crime charges in a variety of circumstances.

Examples of organized crime are detailed on the left.