Miami RICO Claims Attorney
The federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and Florida’s racketeering laws are extremely complex, and parties that are under investigation for violations need to work with a law firm that has experience in dealing with these types of cases. Defendants can be fined up to three times the damages that they are found to have caused by the court, in addition to the other party’s attorney’s fees. These serious civil fines can financially cripple a defendant who does not choose an attorney that understands the seriousness of their situation. Contact the Miami RICO claims attorneys of Pike & Lustig, LLP today to speak with an attorney at once.
The History of the Civil Rico Act and the Damages it Allows to be Sought
The RICO Act was originally created in 1970 to combat organized crime, and it imposes serious criminal penalties for what many consider to be “white collar crimes.” Florida has adopted similar laws, and both allow injured parties to seek financial damages, either in federal or state court, from the party that was involved in the unlawful acts. Under 18 U.S. Code § 1964, an injured party may sue to “recover threefold the damages he sustains and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.” Not all defendants who get caught up in the RICO Act are members of organized crime. Many are legitimate business owners, employees, and individuals, who were found to have participated in racketeering activities, which include the following:
- Bribery – Public officials are barred from receiving anything that might influence them, and any person who offers such a bribe can be charged with bribery. Any officer or employee who works for the state or federal government, such as a delegate or commissioner, can be considered a public official.
- Wire fraud – The number of wire transfers made each year has doubled since the last two decades, according to Guardian Analytics. More than 130 million transfers, adding up to over $600 billion, are made each year, and with that increase in wire transfers comes an increase in wire fraud. Wire fraud is done with schemes that defraud a person or entity through deception.
- Mail fraud – Mail fraud is similar to wire fraud, but uses the U.S. mail system as a means to defraud the victim instead of telephone or computer.
- Embezzlement – Embezzlement occurs when a person withholds funds, oftentimes pension or union funds. For the crime to be considered embezzlement, there must be a fiduciary relationship between the defendant and the victim.
- Extortion or Blackmail – Extortion includes threats of violence, the threat of exposing a secret, a threat of property damage, or a threat to damage another’s reputation. The threat is made to enact a business or governmental decision in order for the defendant to profit from money.
- Securities fraud – Securities fraud or stock fraud occurs when the defendant convinces an investor to make a decision by deceiving that investor or providing false information, with the purpose of the act being to better the defendant’s own finances.
Contact a Miami RICO Attorney at Once
The Miami RICO claims attorneys of Pike & Lustig, LLP have had numerous successful outcomes for our clients who have been up against RICO claims that could have cost them incredible amounts of money. We encourage you to reach out to one of our attorneys today for assistance and to set up a consultation at your soonest availability.
