What Is Racketeering?

By jamie

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Racketeering is the attempt to make personal gains through coercion or extortion. It is often used by organized crime members and it is also sometimes used by individuals that want to make some money. In some instances, racketeering can become very violent, and victims can be forced to live in awful conditions.

There are numerous different types of crime that fall under the racketeering umbrella. Anybody that is found guilty of racketeering might find themselves serving 20 years in prison, and they may also be ordered to pay a fine of up to $25,000. Here’s a few examples of crimes that fall under the racketeering category.

1. Protection Racket

A protection racket is basically when assistance is offered in helping to protect people or property from harm from others. This is typically done in exchange for money. It was a common theme in 1950s gangster movies and, while it is not as prevalent as it used to be, it still occurs today. It may not sound so bad to begin with, even helpful, except that the people that are taking the money for protection are often those that will be doing harm if no payment is received. In such instances, those making the demands are often so powerful that most people are powerless to resist.

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