Crime bosses will have layers of minions directly committing crimes. This lets the boss say it wasn't them. RICO provides laws to go after an entire criminal organization, including the bosses who direct the minions to commit crimes.

They are using the law in the Trump case because many of the direct crimes were done by minions. If they can prove that there was an organized series of crimes that were under the direction of boss Trump, they can hold him accountable for the crimes of the organization.

[–] Skyrmir@lemmy.world 28 points 1 year ago

It's a law that was used to bring down mob bosses. It makes it illegal to have other people commit crimes for you.

https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-16-crimes-and-offenses/chapter-14-racketeer-influenced-and-corrupt-organizations/section-16-14-3-definitions#:~:text=(5)%20(A)%20%22,beverages%20in%20violation%20of%20Code

Hopefully that link works, the text of the law is fairly clear as far as legal texts go.

[–] ProfessorScience@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago

Basically RICO allows the government to go after the leaders of an organization for a pattern of criminal activity, rather than just going after the members for individual acts. It was created to make it easier to prosecute the Mafia and other organized crime.

[–] Candelestine@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You know how when you let your dog off his leash, and he bites someone, you get in trouble for it? That's RICO, basically.

[–] Whitebrow@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago

You tell it to bite somebody and it does*

Otherwise it’s just negligence, but yeah, otherwise it’s accurate enough

[–] lapislazuli@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I keep seeing references to RICO in The Sopranos. Was too lazy to google. Makes a lot of sense now, reading these explanations.