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.]
