From Mafia to Violent Extremist: Examining the Application of the Rico Act to Antifa
Abstract
Factions within Antifa were responsible for criminal activity during the social injustice protests of 2020in the United States, leading to some arrests. Despite the economic destruction caused nationally during the protests and Antifa's continual involvement in criminal acts, not much has been done to hold the group accountable. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act offers one potential option to address Antifa. This thesis explores how the RICO statute has been applied to criminal enterprises similar to Antifa and how it might be applied to prosecute Antifa. This thesis uses a combination of two qualitative research methods: legal analysis and case studies. The legal analysis focuses on the RICO Act's application to non-economic enterprises and the related First Amendment issues involved when the act is applied to protest groups. The case studies focus on the successful application of the RICO Act to other types of criminal enterprises such as criminal street gangs, white supremacist groups, and other non-traditional criminal enterprises. This thesis finds that the RICO Act's use for non-traditional criminal enterprises has withstood legal challenges, making it a viable option for combating Antifa.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1213019
Entities
People
- Marco A. Sr Soto
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School