With the former President of the United States, Donald Trump being charged with the RICO act, he joins a notorious list of gangsters and criminals on which the act has been used in the past. Here’s a list of some of them.
For example, if the gang shown in the movie Money Heist would commit the crime in Georgia, they would be charged with the RICO act. They were not a formal criminal organization, but as the act does not allow a criminal organization to exist, the Money Heist team would still be charged under this act.
Prominent Convicts charged under the RICO Act:
- John Gotti: John Gotti, also known as the "Teflon Don," was a notorious mob boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He became a symbol of organized crime in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, Gotti was convicted under the RICO Act on charges of murder, conspiracy, illegal gambling, and tax evasion. He was sentenced to life in prison and died in prison in 2002.
- Vincent "Chin" Gigante: Vincent Gigante was a prominent figure in the Genovese crime family. He notoriously feigned mental illness by wandering the streets in a bathrobe and mumbling to himself. Despite his act, he was convicted under the RICO Act in 1997 for racketeering, including murder and other criminal activities. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and died in 2005.
- Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano: Gravano was a high-ranking member of the Gambino crime family and played a significant role in bringing down the family's leadership. He became a government informant and testified against John Gotti. In 2002, Gravano was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in various criminal activities under the RICO Act.
- Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo: Corallo was a boss of the Lucchese crime family. In 1986, he was convicted under the RICO Act on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to 100 years in prison and died in prison in 2000.
- Joseph "Big Joe" Massino: Massino was the boss of the Bonanno crime family. He became the first boss of one of New York's Five Families to become a government informant. In 2004, he was convicted under the RICO Act for multiple crimes, including murder, racketeering, and extortion. His cooperation led to significant convictions of other mobsters.
These are just a few examples of prominent individuals who have been convicted under the RICO Act. The law has been used to dismantle and weaken various organized crime groups and has had a significant impact on combating criminal enterprises in the United States.
