RICO is an acronym for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This Act was put into place as part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. However, civil RICO lawsuits are not limited to only cases of organized crime. It can also be applied to any legitimate business that engages in a pattern of racketeering activities, under the law. Common types of civil RICO activities include:
Bribery
Bribery is considered as the offering, receiving, or giving of something in order to influence a public official, such as a member of congress, delegate, resident commissioner, or similar.
Extortion
Threats of violence, property damage, harm to a reputation, or retribution used to force a victim into giving the perpetrator money or property, are all considered forms of extortion. Blackmail is the most common and familiar types of extortion.
Security Fraud
This type of fraud, also commonly known as stock fraud, is the practice of convincing investors into making a certain decision based on false information of deception.
Mail and Wire Fraud
These schemes use the U.S. mail system or electronic sources, such as the phone or Internet, to defraud others of property or finances. This is usually done through telemarketing, email scams, and mail scams.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is a form of theft that is carried out by purposefully withholding any certain type of funds. Often times, funds are taken by a member of a company.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud refers to the commission of any act that is intended to obtain a favorable, yet fraudulent outcome, during an insurance claim.
These are just a few common examples of how civil RICO lawsuits can occur. If the unfortunate happens and you are involved in a civil RICO case, it is very important to seek legal representation immediately. At Ovadia Law Group, our experienced civil RICO defense lawyers are trained to successfully litigate civil RICO actions throughout Miami Beach. We are determined to get you the best results possible from your case. Your initial consultation is always free, so call our offices at 1-800-378-1242 today to find out how we can help with your case.
