Racketeering charges are generally reserved for those who are involved in some kind of criminal enterprise. If you are charged with racketeering, you could be looking at multiple charges and a long jail sentence. You should take the prosecution seriously and have legal representation of your own. A Memphis criminal defense attorney from our firm can help you.
Who Can Get Charged With Racketeering in Tennessee?
The racketeering laws in Tennessee are primarily aimed at catching and prosecuting people who are associated with gangs. The state and the police look for patterns of what they consider to be racketeering conduct. If someone commits two or more crimes that fall under these statutes within two years, they can be charged.
In some cases, the person being charged does not even have to be the one who has an active hand in committing the crime. They can simply profit from the illegal activity. That is enough to charge them and potentially throw them in prison.
What Kinds of Crime Can the State Use in a Racketeering Case?
There are a few particular types of crime that are commonly used to build racketeering cases. Common offenses include:
- Profiting off of controlled substances
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Solicitation of a minor
- Patronizing or promoting prostitution
- Trafficking people
- Receiving any kind of profit due to racketeering activity
- Any kind of criminal gang offense
Can You Go to Prison for Racketeering?
Jail time is certainly a possibility for anyone who gets convicted of racketeering. It mostly depends on which other crimes you are accused of committing, but you can usually expect that the prosecution has some severe punishments in mind for you if they are going after you like this. If you are facing two, three, or more criminal charges, it is hard to believe that you will get out of this without jail time if convicted.
There are usually other punishments for racketeering as well. There are often high fines associated with these charges. Defendants also usually have to give up the assets that they earned while performing illicit activities or being involved with others who performed illicit activities.
What Does the State Need to Prove in Their Case?
To hold you accountable for racketeering, the state needs to show a few things. There needs to be evidence that:
- The criminal activity was ongoing
- There was a pattern of crimes
- A larger criminal enterprise was involved
- Commerce occurred across state lines
Your lawyer can argue that the prosecution’s case does not prove any of this.
Talk to an Attorney
The penalties for racketeering can be extreme, so do not try to defend yourself on your own. Contact Ballin, Ballin & Fishman, PC and schedule a free case evaluation. We can tell you more about our experience and what we can do to help you fight for your rights.
