Third Question of the Day October 17, 2014 Read the following from the FBI regarding Criminal Enterprise. How many believe that the compounding industry may have some criminal liability under RICO as a cirminal enterprise? Why? or Why not? Haven't we already seen mail fraud, wire fraud, trafficking in counterfeit goods, money laundering, state and federal charges for murder and drug Is violations? Possible corrupt public officals? And threats against people who try to expose them?

Organized Crime • Glossary

Criminal Enterprise The FBI defines a criminal enterprise as a group of individuals with an identified hierarchy, or comparable structure,  engaged in significant criminal activity. These organizations often engage in multiple criminal activities and have extensive supporting networks. The terms Organized Crime and Criminal Enterprise are similar and often used synonymously. However, various federal criminal statutes specifically  define the elements of an enterprise that need to be proven in order to convict individuals or groups of individuals under  those statutes. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, or Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1961(4), defines an enterprise as "any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, and any union or group of individuals associated in fact although  not a legal entity." The Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute, or Title 21 of the United States Code, Section 848(c)(2), defines a criminal  enterprise as any group of six or more people, where one of the six occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management with respect to the other five, and which generates substantial income or resources, and is engaged in a continuing series of violations  of subchapters I and II of Chapter 13 of Title 21 of the United States Code. Organized Crime The FBI defines organized crime as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary  objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Such groups maintain their position through the use of actual or  threatened violence, corrupt public officials, graft, or extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people in  their locales, region, or the country as a whole. Significant Racketeering Activity The FBI defines significant racketeering activities as those predicate criminal acts that are chargeable under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute. These are found in Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1961 (1) and include the following federal crimes: Bribery Sports Bribery Counterfeiting Embezzlement of Union Funds Mail Fraud Wire Fraud Money Laundering Obstruction of Justice Murder for Hire Drug Trafficking Prostitution Sexual Exploitation of Children Alien Smuggling Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods Theft from Interstate Shipment Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property And the following state crimes: Murder Kidnapping Gambling Arson Robbery Bribery Extortion Drugs quoted from here