WHAT IS RACKETEERING?
On behalf of Law Office Of Scott G. Cerbin, Esq., PLLC posted in federal crimes on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Racketeering charges cover many different crimes perpetrated by a group or company led by certain individuals. These crimes are taken very seriously by the federal government, with some of those convicted receiving life sentences in prison. Additionally, even organizations that operate legally can be accused of racketeering.

On the federal level, racketeering is punished using the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations (RICO) Act. According to The United States Department of Justice, RICO violations entail the following components. First, there must be a group in operation. While at the onset of the RICO act it was used to target organized crime families, charges can be levied at even legitimate businesses. Next, the person being charged must be established to be a member of this group or business. The person must have also participated in a pattern of racketeering activity, which is defined as two separate offenses within a ten-year period.

ThoughtCo. provides deeper insight into the type of crimes committed. One example is a legitimate business enterprise that participates in criminal activity. For instance, this can entail laundering money earned via illegal means, trafficking drugs, participating in credit card fraud, bribery, providing loans with unlawful terms, selling stolen goods, and embezzlement (also known as a misappropriation of funds).

Being charged under the RICO act can have serious consequences. Any property or assets obtained as a result of the enterprise may be seized by the government before the trial. Fines are also common; fines can be up to $250,000 or double the proceeds that were gained from criminal activity. Civil suits can also be brought against the defendant, resulting in even more cost. In terms of jail time, the accused may receive up to twenty years per charge, while life sentences are possible when other charges (like murder) are also a factor.

IS IT DANGEROUS TO TAKE DRUGS BEFORE DRIVING?
On behalf of Law Office Of Scott G. Cerbin, Esq., PLLC posted in vehicular assault or homicide on Friday, October 12, 2018.

You may be well aware of the dangers of drinking and driving in New York. However, you may not realize that taking drugs before you get behind the wheel is also dangerous.

Because you do not often hear stories about car crashes caused by drugs, you may think these incidents are not common. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most recent statistics suggest that drugs are involved in about 11 percent of fatal car accidents. However, it is difficult to understand the exact connection between drugs and collisions. One of the reasons for this is that sometimes people drink alcohol and take drugs before driving. Additionally, sometimes people already have a blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit and when this is the case, law enforcement does not always perform a drug test.

When you first think about drugged driving, you may think this involves drugs like cocaine. However, statistics indicate that only about 10 percent of drivers in fatal collisions used this substance. Instead, prescription medications are involved in most deadly accidents. Marijuana also plays a role in drugged driving crashes.

Taking drugs before driving is dangerous for many reasons. Different kinds of drugs typically affect a person’s brain in distinct ways. A person who takes methamphetamine or cocaine might become reckless behind the wheel. Marijuana sometimes causes people to be less coordinated and they may also experience delayed reactions. If a person takes a sedative, he or she may feel drowsy. Some people may think they will be able to drive safely if they only take a small dose of a drug before driving. However, people generally feel the effects of a drug even with small doses. Because of this, it is important for people to make sure they do not drive if they have drugs in their system.

This information is intended to educate. It should not be used in place of legal advice.