Racketeering conspiracy refers to an agreement between two or more people to participate in a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.

Racketeering

Racketeering is a type of organized crime involving illegal schemes or operations (called "rackets") designed to repeatedly or consistently generate profit through coercion, fraud, extortion, or other unlawful means. Traditional examples include protection rackets, where criminals offer "protection" to businesses from threats or vandalism that they themselves may cause. Racketeering can also encompass various crimes such as murder, robbery, drug trafficking, money laundering, bribery, and fraud, among others. The term is broadly defined under the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which targets ongoing criminal enterprises

Conspiracy

Conspiracy is a criminal charge based on an agreement between two or more individuals to commit a crime. It does not require that the crime be completed; the mere agreement and an overt act toward committing the crime suffice. Conspiracy charges focus on the planning and agreement phase of criminal conduct

Racketeering Conspiracy

A racketeering conspiracy charge involves an agreement to participate in the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. This means the conspirators agree to engage in multiple illegal acts that constitute racketeering, such as bribery, fraud, extortion, or drug trafficking, as part of an ongoing criminal organization. Racketeering conspiracy is distinct from simple conspiracy because it specifically involves participation in an enterprise through repeated criminal acts as defined under RICO

. In summary, racketeering conspiracy is the coordinated agreement to carry out a series of criminal acts within a structured illegal enterprise, often prosecuted under the RICO statute.