Racketeer

A racketeer is a person who participates in racketeering, the operation of illegal schemes designed to earn money or property through coercion, fraud, or corruption. The term is commonly associated with organized crime but can apply to individuals within any organization who engage in ongoing criminal activity for profit.

Racketeering offenses encompass a broad range of illicit activities. Typical examples include extortion, bribery, loan sharking, fraud, money laundering, illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and other schemes that are organized or repeated over time. Rackets often rely on threat, intimidation, manipulation of legitimate enterprises, or fraudulent representations to maintain control and extract wealth.

Etymology and history: Racketeering derives from the word racket, referring to illicit schemes that operate in a deceitful or coercive manner to steal money. The term gained prominence in the early 20th century and became closely tied to organized crime in the United States, particularly during Prohibition and the subsequent decades.

Legal context: In United States law, racketeering is defined and punished under statutes such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), enacted in 1970. A person can be charged with racketeering if they participate in a pattern of at least two related criminal offenses within a ten-year period as part of an ongoing enterprise. Convictions support enhanced penalties, including potential prison time, asset forfeiture, and civil liability.

Usage and scope: The label implies involvement in organized, sustained, and illegal activity rather than isolated crimes. It is commonly used in legal, journalistic, and popular discussions to describe individuals who run or participate in criminal schemes as part of an organized network.