When you are charged with racketeering, it means that the state believes that you are part of a large criminal group that has committed a variety of offenses. The state has collected a ton of evidence and they believe that they have connected all of these dots. You should not face serious charges like these on your own. You should contact a Monmouth County criminal defense attorney and start forming your strategy as soon as you can.
What is Considered Racketeering?
Many different crimes can fall under the umbrella of racketeering. Some of the most common charges include:
- Money laundering
- Using counterfeit money
- Selling controlled substances
- Forgery
- Extortion
- Robbery
- Credit card fraud
- Operating an illegal gambling business
Sometimes violent crimes, like murder and assault, can also end up on a list of a racketeering defendant’s crimes. Any of these things would be crimes by themselves. What makes them so much worse in the eyes of the state is that these crimes were part of a pattern of criminal activity, with multiple incidents recorded over a period of 10 years. There was also clearly some larger criminal enterprise operating here. These racketeering crimes were committed to support or benefit from that enterprise.
What Are Potential Punishments for Racketeering?
When you are charged with racketeering, you can be sure that the state is going to come at you hard. There are two different degrees of crime you can be charged with:
Crime in the first degree: These racketeering crimes involve the use of firearms or violence. Defendants convicted of a crime in the first degree could be fined up to $200,000 and they could spend 10 to 20 years in prison.
Crime in the second degree: The punishments here are not much lighter. Expect to pay up to $150,000 in fines. You could also go to prison for five to 10 years.
If you are found guilty of racketeering, you also have to forfeit any assets that you gained while committing your crimes. So if you made a lot of money running an illegal casino, that money belongs to the state now.
Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?
Hiring a criminal defense attorney should be your first step after you get charged with racketeering. A lawyer from our firm will do their best to help you show that you are not guilty of the crimes you are accused of. An attorney can also answer any questions that you have and they can speak on your behalf so that you do not have to worry about incriminating yourself.
Talk to Our Legal Team Today
The punishments for racketeering can be severe, so make sure that you are doing everything that you can to tell your side of the story. Contact The Law Offices of George J. Mardinly and schedule a consultation. Our team would be able to tell you more about how we can be of assistance.