RACKETEERING

Murder, Guns, Drugs, & Fraud have been around forever.  Murder, Guns, Drugs, & Fraud are still around but these crimes are now being committed by more sophisticated Criminal Street Gangs.  The Federal R.I.C.O. Statute was initially created in 1970 to combat organized crime by allowing prosecution and civil penalties for racketeering activities performed as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise such as the Mafia.  However, in 1977 the State of Florida enacted its own state-level R.I.C.O. law, which followed the federal government’s R.I.C.O. statute, aimed at addressing organized crime within the State of Florida.  The Florida R.I.C.O. Statute is an effective tool to take down criminal street gangs who are responsible for so many violent gun crimes.  The R.I.C.O. statute allows investigators and prosecutors to target and successfully prosecute the actual leaders and “brains” behind these criminal organizations, not just the foot soldiers that commit individual crimes.  In short, a thoroughly investigated and prosecuted R.I.C.O. case allows for long term solutions to neighborhoods decimated by gang and gun violence by dismantling and eliminating entire criminal organizations.

Criminal street gangs have become more brazen than ever.  They publish social media posts bragging about their affiliation, their crimes, and their “OPS.”  They write song lyrics and publish music videos bragging about their crimes.  They flash large stacks of money obtained through fraud.  What you need to know as an investigator and as a prosecutor is that this can all be unbelievably valuable evidence.  The R.I.C.O. law is a powerful tool to present a case to a jury to demonstrate not only what the defendant(s) did on a given day, but to demonstrate their pattern of criminal conduct that can span over several years.

The Lead Instructor for this intense and informative 16-hour class is the Chief of the Homicide Trial Unit for the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, Stephen Zaccor.  The class is designed to benefit everybody from the first responding officers to the detectives/investigators and supervisors managing the case to the attorneys prosecuting the case.  Since the students who attend this class will be provided with the most current case law, information and technology available regarding conducting criminal investigations in today’s times, we encourage attendance from ALL law enforcement officers and any other personnel who participate in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.  Whether you work for a municipal police department, a county sheriff’s department, a state law enforcement agency or a federal law enforcement agency, this class will be extremely beneficial to you and your decision-making skills when it comes to investigating cases in today’s times.  It is important that all parties, including the command staff, understand the “WHY” when certain decisions are made.  Lots of things have changed in our profession.  These changes include our investigative techniques, the law, and how cases are presented to juries.

In addition to all law enforcement officers, this class is extremely beneficial to all Assistant State/District Attorneys who handle violent crimes, fraud, gun crimes, or gang related cases. During the class, we will discuss the life of a RICO investigation, how it becomes a RICO court case and what to expect in trial.  After attending this class, you will have a clear understanding of what R.I.C.O. is, how to build it with law enforcement and how to try it.