This RICO charge is a very serious one, and a lot of times when I see people getting wrapped up in a RICO charge, it involves multiple defendants.
In other words, it's not just one person getting indicted at the federal level; it's a bunch of people getting indicted.
A lot of times, we will see gang members getting caught up and charged with RICO charges, and in a lot of these cases, they're facing the rest of their lives in federal prison.
Federal prison for gang members is not good because they're not able to do as many things in the federal prison as they are in the state prison.
So, the feds often have the sophistication and assets to prosecute some of these major RICO cases. The state simply doesn't have them.
They don't have the manpower, reach, technology, or money, but the feds do.
Teams of Federal Agents and Prosecutors Working RICO Cases
So, there are specific teams of federal prosecutors and agents who work together to prosecute these RICO cases, and they will target a group of gang members. For example:
- who are running drug operations,
- who are dissuading and intimidating witnesses,
- who are committing murders and a whole host of other things, and they're basically organized.
The feds will use wiretapping in order to get to them. They obviously will use surveillance techniques. They will use informants.
Federal prosecutors and agents have access to all of these weapons, and sometimes, it takes them a year, two years, three years, or four years to complete their investigation.
Gang Members and RICO Charges
However, once they do, they don't just arrest one person; they arrest everyone involved with the RICO charges pretty close to the same time if they can so word doesn't get out so people flee to Mexico or different locations.
Now, they have a whole slew of people arrested and being charged at the federal level with RICO charges.
I've seen as many as 70 gang members or gang associates all charged together. All are being prosecuted in one case with two or three prosecutors, a whole host of agents, and a bunch of evidence.
There are thousands of pages of evidence, whether from wiretapping that they've done for months or even years or surveillance they've done for many months or years.
They really put these cases together before they go after the participants in the RICO case. The Hobbs Act prohibits extortion or robbery by use of force affecting interstate commerce.
Federal Conspiracy and RICO Charges
So, if you or a loved one has been swept up in one of these giant nets and are being charged with RICO charges and another related charge, whether it be drugs, conspiracy charges, or murder.
These RICO convictions involve a whole slew of related charges. What they really do is let the government cast a huge net to grab people.
So, a lot of players are saying, I didn't do that; I didn't do this; I had nothing to do with that. But, if you're part of a gang or organization, for example, and that gang is:
- running drugs,
- making money,
- using weapons,
- killing people,
- threatening people,
- involved in drive-by shootings.
Whatever the case may be, if they can show that you're part of that gang and part of what's going on, they can sweep you up into the net and use a conspiracy theory to say, "This guy agreed."
He was part of it. He's part of the gang. He knew what they were doing. He helped them, and therefore, he doesn't have to do every single element of a particular act.
He just has to be part of the agreement, part of the conspiracy, and then we can tie him into the RICO charges and other charges related to him and prosecute him.
A lot of times, juries buy into this. If you guys are going to do this type of stuff, we don't really care that you did every single act necessary.
We just care that you agreed, that you're part of the gang, that you're part of what's going on, and that you're dangerous to society. If the prosecutors can prove that, they can make a pretty strong argument against them.
Federal Criminal Lawyer for RICO Charges
So, you want to get a defense attorney who's got experience and has handled these cases before.
One can either single you out and show that you're not involved and they don't have enough evidence or try to work out some sort of a resolution on your behalf.
A resolution that takes into account your family, your job and all the things that you hold very important and what you could lose when it comes to these very serious RICO charges.
So, pick up the phone now. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. I stand at the ready to help you.
Hedding Law Firm is a top-rated criminal defense law firm located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.
We serve clients in California and throughout the United States, including Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, Fresno, San Francisco, Hollywood, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Call (213) 542-0994 for a free case evaluation.
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