Prosecuting Criminals.

Federal prosecutors have available two sets of statutes to dismantle criminal enterprises that function like businesses. The continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) statute (21 U.S.C. 848) targets only drug traffickers who are responsible for long-term and elaborate conspiracies. The antiracketeering statute (18 U.S.C. 1951-1968), which includes the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), targets offenders working at the top levels of various kinds of criminal organizations. The number of prosecutions based on these statutes …

…and foreign travel in aid of racketeering (Sec. 1952) 1961: Interstate transportation of gambling paraphernalia (Sec. 1953) 1962: Offenses related to employee benefit plans (Sec. 1954) 1970: Illegal gambling businesses (Sec. 1955) 1970: RICO (Secs. 1961-68; amended to clarify or broaden scope of prohibited activities, or adjust penalties in 1978, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) 1984: Use of interstate commerce facilities (including mails) in commission of murder-for-hire (Sec. 1958) 1984: Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activities (Sec. 1959) 1986: Money laundering (Sec. 1956) 1986: Monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity (Sec. 1957) -----