What Are the Penalties for Racketeering in New York?

Getting accused of racketeering activity is a serious thing. There are plenty of crimes that can result in you getting hit with racketeering charges as well, and this can result in punishments that are much harsher than you would expect, including incredibly high fines and a long sentence behind prison bars. You should have someone on your side, ready to tell your side of the story with you. You should talk to a Bergen County criminal attorney from our firm.

What Kind of Sentence Can I Get For Racketeering?

A racketeering charge is often considered a Class B felony. This can mean:

A prison sentence of up to 25 years
A fine of up to $5,000 or
A fine of up to double the amount that the defendant gained from their crime

There could be other criminal charges to contend with too, so this may not even be the extent of your punishment. Now you are seeing why fighting back against accusations of racketeering needs to be a top priority.

What are the Criteria for Racketeering?

Racketeering charges are generally leveled at people who are suspected of being part of some kind of criminal enterprise. You are not just committing crimes for your own gain and benefit here. There is a pattern of criminal activity and you are actually supporting the growth of a criminal organization that has farther reach than you as an individual. This enterprise is capable of harming far more people and committing more crimes than you could on your own.

Not only did you help this criminal enterprise grow with your actions, but you knew what you were doing this entire time. Helping this organization grow so that it could commit greater crimes and harm more people was one of your goals.

What Are Some Common Racketeering Crimes?

Many crimes related to racketeering are financial in nature, but they can also be violent. You can be charged with racketeering if there is a pattern of you committing crimes like:

Credit card fraud
Money laundering
Using fake currency
Operating an illegal gambling business
Bribery
Promoting prostitution
Theft
Arson
Murder

How Can I Defend Myself From These Charges?

If you want to defend yourself from racketeering charges, you are going to have to argue that you were not really a willing participant in this entire enterprise. Depending on the circumstances, we could potentially argue that:

You had no knowledge of the criminal enterprise
There was no pattern of criminal activity
You committed crimes, but you were under duress
You were a victim of entrapment

Talk to an Experienced Attorney

Now you can see that you have to take accusations of racketeering quite seriously. So do not delay, call the Law Offices of Kevin T. Conway and begin working on your defensive strategy today. We will do everything that we can to help you fight for the best possible outcome.