In addition to criminal proceedings, the RICO statute authorizes individuals to file civil lawsuits. The government uses this law to investigate and prosecute legal and illegal businesses and organizations involved in a range of racketeering activities. Over time, the law has been used to target other groups including drug cartels, corrupt police departments and businesses that engage in mail or wire fraud.
It was initially designed to target and dismantle organized crime syndicates like the Mafia.
In 1970, Congress passed the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, also known as the RICO statute.
