How Our Lawyers Helped Reduce RICO Charges to Drug Possession
Recently, at the Logue Law Group, we handled a case that involved quite a serious charge against our client. He was suspected of being involved with a heroin ring and faced RICO charges, which could’ve resulted in a lifetime imprisonment sentence.
Knowing that he had no way to save himself, the man called up our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers and asked for help. And this time, we literally churned out a miraculous outcome that was no short of a life-changing move!
So, how did our lawyers help reduce these serious charges? Let’s take a look at this blog to learn about the details.
An Overview of RICO
Abbreviated for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), it was established in 1970 with an aim to eradicate organized crime.
So, if someone has violated RICO, it means the person has some sort of connection with an organization that engages in racketeering activities like-
- Arson
- Bribery
- Counterfeiting
- Distribution of a controlled substance
- Embezzlement
- Extortion
- Gambling
- Homicide
- Kidnapping
- Mail fraud
- Money laundering
- Robbery
- Wire fraud
- Witness tampering
Owing to the severity of these ‘predicate’ offenses, the penalties under the RICO Act include-
- Imprisonment sentence of 20 years.
- Fines of $250,000 or double the money that the accused gained from these illegal activities.
Added to this, the imprisonment sentence can also extend to a life sentence, which depends upon the underlying crime that has been committed. That’s exactly why hiring a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer is mandatory if you have been charged with such a crime.
How Did We Reduce the Charges?
At the Logue Law Group, we believe that meticulousness is the key, as the devil lies in the details of a case! Therefore, the moment our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers received the case, we immediately began working on our part of the investigation process.
And after a close scrutiny of all the evidence and circumstances, we came up with a surprising fact- that our client somehow got caught up in this terrible mess! While he enjoyed his occasional heroin consumption, he wasn’t involved directly or indirectly in any racketeering organization and was simply made a pawn by the kingpins of the racket. So, the heavy charges that our client was facing now became unjustifiable.
So, our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers did what they do best. We sat for a negotiation on our client’s behalf, and presented every minute fact and evidence that showcased that our client was not at fault.
Finally, the prosecution agreed to our negotiations and decided to reduce the charges to a drug possession offense. Although our client still had to serve a prison sentence, this reduction in charge helped spare him from a life sentence, and also saved him from suffering a lifetime of collateral consequences!
Drug-related offenses carry quite serious charges in the state of Pennsylvania. Moreover, the Pennsylvania state laws are very stringent toward drug charges, and a conviction can literally be a life-altering experience! That’s why seeking help from an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer is always a wise decision.
Have you, or a friend of yours, been held with RICO and racketeering charges? Don’t waste time, and call us at 844.PITT.DUI to get in touch and hire an experienced legal counsel to protect your rights!