Characteristic Organized Crimes II: Infiltration of Business, Extortion, and Racketeering

This chapter considers the remaining two categories of organized crime: extortion and racketeering. Their fundamental difference from the provision of illicit goods and services is highlighted. It defines the scope of organized crime activity as it relates to predatory crimes. Based on the typology of organized crime earlier in the book, it can be seen that the provision of illicit goods, the provision of illicit services, and the infiltration of legitimate business can be characterized by the crimes of conspiracy, extortion, and racketeering. Organized crime engenders a plethora of activity, but this chapter has shown that it can be categorized and defined in explicit terms. The causes, investigation, prosecution, defense, and sentencing of organized crime, explained in subsequent chapters, rely on a specific understanding of the nature of organized criminal activity itself.