A Federal VICAR Charge Goes Hand in Hand with a RICO Charge
Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering
“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.”
What is a VICAR Count?
Violent crime in aid of racketeering, commonly known as VICAR, is a separate federal criminal charge commonly linked to a federal RICO case. 18 USC § 1959 makes illegal one who murders, kidnaps, maims, assaults with a dangerous weapon, commits assault resulting in serious bodily injury upon, or threatens to commit a crime of violence if they do so for the purpose of furthering an illegal enterprise.
VICAR Punishments
A VICAR charge carries with it its own punishments, including life for murder. We see VICAR counts added in almost every street gang case, especially where there are allegations of firearm violence.
Defending VICAR Cases
A VICAR charge can be defended, normally with the argument that whatever underlying crime charged did not have a bearing on the alleged illegal enterprise. These arguments have to be made by a skilled federal criminal lawyer to a jury to give you the best chance of beating the case. Give us a call today to discuss how we can fight your VICAR charge.