Representing Clients Accused of Participating in Organized Crime

If you have been accused of participating in a criminal organization, you could be facing serious penalties under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a federal law that allows the government to prosecute people just for belonging to a particular group.

Sylvia A. Cavazos has been practicing criminal law in Texas since 1997. She began her career as a prosecutor, and today is a federal and state defense lawyer. If you have been charged with racketeering, she is prepared to protect your rights.

Understanding How RICO Works and How to Fight RICO Charges

Under RICO, if the government can prove that you are a member of an organization that has committed at least two of 35 different crimes — including murder, kidnapping, extortion, blackmail and robbery — within a 10-year period, you can be convicted of racketeering.

Since it was adopted in 1970, RICO has been used to prosecute alleged members of a wide range of organized crime groups, from prison gangs to white collar fraud conspiracies.

While RICO is a powerful tool for prosecutors, people charged with racketeering have the same rights as all other criminal defendants. The prosecution must prove your guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, and your attorney must have an opportunity to create that doubt.

RICO Defense Attorney · Free One-Hour Consultation · 210-468-1130

If you are convicted of racketeering, you could be facing harsh penalties such as a prison sentence, substantial fines and asset forfeiture. To schedule a free one-hour consultation to discuss your criminal defense options, please contact the firm at 210-468-1130 or by email.