RACKETEERING
racketeering,n.1. A system of organized crime traditionally involving the extortion of money
from businesses by intimidation, violence, or other illegal methods. [Cases: Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations 4, 103. C.J.S. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations) §§ 4, 6.] 2. A pattern of illegal activity (such as bribery, extortion, fraud, and
murder) carried out as part of an enterprise (such as a crime syndicate) that is owned or controlled
by those engaged in the illegal activity. • The modern sense (sense 2) derives from the federal
RICO statute, which greatly broadened the term’s original sense to include such activities as mail
fraud, securities fraud, and the collection of illegal gambling debts. See 18 USCA §§ 1951–1960.
[Cases: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations 1–124. C.J.S. RICO (Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) §§ 2–11, 13–29, 35–37.] [Blacks Law 8th]