It is important to understand civil RICO when searching for an Atlanta racketeering attorney or Atlanta RICO attorney. Characterized as a serious threat to the economic well-being of this nation, racketeering involves the infiltration of criminal enterprises into legitimate businesses. Congress enacted the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("civil RICO") in 1970 to curtail this menace. Litigation based on civil RICO or racketeering violations is essential to the welfare of our country and can be very valuable for a plaintiff who has been damaged by illegal business dealings caused by organized crime. Being a complex and developing issue, and injured business would benefit greatly from the experience of Brandon Hornsby, P.C.'s Atlanta racketeering attorney team.

       There are four types of prohibited conduct under the federal civil RICO statute that can be asserted against either an individual or an enterprise affecting interstate or foreign commerce:

• Invest funds obtained illegally
• Acquire an interest in a business through illegal conduct
• Conduct the affairs of a business by illegal means
• Conspire to commit any of the above conduct

       It is therefore illegal for a person who has received income from a racketeering activity or the collection of an unlawful debt ("loan-sharking") to invest that income in the acquisition, establishment or operation of an enterprise or to even maintain an interest in or control of an enterprise with illegitimate funds. It is further illegal for an employee or anyone associated with a company to engage in racketeering activity or collect unlawful debt. Under the final section of the statute, it is unlawful to plan to commit any of this conduct.

       Our Atlanta civil RICO attorney team recognizes many potentially difficult issues in civil RICO and racketeering cases, but various parts of the statute can be utilized depending on the facts of your case. If your business has been harmed by the racketeering activities of another business or individual, whether through loan-sharking, mafia activity, or any other organized crime, contact an experienced Atlanta racketeering attorney in our office to ensure your business is protected and properly compensated.