TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 96 - RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS
HEAD
Sec. 1963. Criminal penalties
STATUTE
(a) Whoever violates any provision of section 1962 of this
chapter shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
20 years (or for life if the violation is based on a racketeering
activity for which the maximum penalty includes life imprisonment),
or both, and shall forfeit to the United States, irrespective of
any provision of State law -
(1) any interest the person has acquired or maintained in
violation of section 1962;
(2) any -
(A) interest in;
(B) security of;
(C) claim against; or
(D) property or contractual right of any kind affording a
source of influence over;
any enterprise which the person has established, operated,
controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in
violation of section 1962; and
(3) any property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds
which the person obtained, directly or indirectly, from
racketeering activity or unlawful debt collection in violation of
section 1962.
The court, in imposing sentence on such person shall order, in
addition to any other sentence imposed pursuant to this section,
that the person forfeit to the United States all property described
in this subsection. In lieu of a fine otherwise authorized by this
section, a defendant who derives profits or other proceeds from an
offense may be fined not more than twice the gross profits or other
proceeds.
(b) Property subject to criminal forfeiture under this section
includes -
(1) real property, including things growing on, affixed to, and
found in land; and
(2) tangible and intangible personal property, including
rights, privileges, interests, claims, and securities.
(c) All right, title, and interest in property described in
subsection (a) vests in the United States upon the commission of
the act giving rise to forfeiture under this section. Any such
property that is subsequently transferred to a person other than
the defendant may be the subject of a special verdict of forfeiture
and thereafter shall be ordered forfeited to the United States,
unless the transferee establishes in a hearing pursuant to
subsection (l) that he is a bona fide purchaser for value of such
property who at the time of purchase was reasonably without cause
to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture under this
section.
(d)(1) Upon application of the United States, the court may enter
a restraining order or injunction, require the execution of a
satisfactory performance bond, or take any other action to preserve
the availability of property described in subsection (a) for
forfeiture under this section -
(A) upon the filing of an indictment or information charging a
violation of section 1962 of this chapter and alleging that the
property with respect to which the order is sought would, in the
event of conviction, be subject to forfeiture under this section;
or
(B) prior to the filing of such an indictment or information,
if, after notice to persons appearing to have an interest in the
property and opportunity for a hearing, the court determines that
-
(i) there is a substantial probability that the United States
will prevail on the issue of forfeiture and that failure to
enter the order will result in the property being destroyed,
removed from the jurisdiction of the court, or otherwise made
unavailable for forfeiture; and
(ii) the need to preserve the availability of the property
through the entry of the requested order outweighs the hardship
on any party against whom the order is to be entered:
Provided, however, That an order entered pursuant to subparagraph
(B) shall be effective for not more than ninety days, unless
extended by the court for good cause shown or unless an indictment
or information described in subparagraph (A) has been filed.
(2) A temporary restraining order under this subsection may be
entered upon application of the United States without notice or
opportunity for a hearing when an information or indictment has not
yet been filed with respect to the property, if the United States
demonstrates that there is probable cause to believe that the
property with respect to which the order is sought would, in the
event of conviction, be subject to forfeiture under this section
and that provision of notice will jeopardize the availability of
the property for forfeiture. Such a temporary order shall expire
not more than ten days after the date on which it is entered,
unless extended for good cause shown or unless the party against
whom it is entered consents to an extension for a longer period. A
hearing requested concerning an order entered under this paragraph
shall be held at the earliest possible time, and prior to the
expiration of the temporary order.
(3) The court may receive and consider, at a hearing held
pursuant to this subsection, evidence and information that would be
inadmissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence.
(e) Upon conviction of a person under this section, the court
shall enter a judgment of forfeiture of the property to the United
States and shall also authorize the Attorney General to seize all
property ordered forfeited upon such terms and conditions as the
court shall deem proper. Following the entry of an order declaring
the property forfeited, the court may, upon application of the
United States, enter such appropriate restraining orders or
injunctions, require the execution of satisfactory performance
bonds, appoint receivers, conservators, appraisers, accountants, or
trustees, or take any other action to protect the interest of the
United States in the property ordered forfeited. Any income
accruing to, or derived from, an enterprise or an interest in an
enterprise which has been ordered forfeited under this section may
be used to offset ordinary and necessary expenses to the enterprise
which are required by law, or which are necessary to protect the
interests of the United States or third parties.
(f) Following the seizure of property ordered forfeited under
this section, the Attorney General shall direct the disposition of
the property by sale or any other commercially feasible means,
making due provision for the rights of any innocent persons. Any
property right or interest not exercisable by, or transferable for
value to, the United States shall expire and shall not revert to
the defendant, nor shall the defendant or any person acting in
concert with or on behalf of the defendant be eligible to purchase
forfeited property at any sale held by the United States. Upon
application of a person, other than the defendant or a person
acting in concert with or on behalf of the defendant, the court may
restrain or stay the sale or disposition of the property pending
the conclusion of any appeal of the criminal case giving rise to
the forfeiture, if the applicant demonstrates that proceeding with
the sale or disposition of the property will result in irreparable
injury, harm or loss to him. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302(b), the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of property forfeited
under this section and any moneys forfeited shall be used to pay
all proper expenses for the forfeiture and the sale, including
expenses of seizure, maintenance and custody of the property
pending its disposition, advertising and court costs. The Attorney
General shall deposit in the Treasury any amounts of such proceeds
or moneys remaining after the payment of such expenses.
(g) With respect to property ordered forfeited under this
section, the Attorney General is authorized to -
(1) grant petitions for mitigation or remission of forfeiture,
restore forfeited property to victims of a violation of this
chapter, or take any other action to protect the rights of
innocent persons which is in the interest of justice and which is
not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter;
(2) compromise claims arising under this section;
(3) award compensation to persons providing information
resulting in a forfeiture under this section;
(4) direct the disposition by the United States of all property
ordered forfeited under this section by public sale or any other
commercially feasible means, making due provision for the rights
of innocent persons; and
(5) take appropriate measures necessary to safeguard and
maintain property ordered forfeited under this section pending
its disposition.
(h) The Attorney General may promulgate regulations with respect
to -
(1) making reasonable efforts to provide notice to persons who
may have an interest in property ordered forfeited under this
section;
(2) granting petitions for remission or mitigation of
forfeiture;
(3) the restitution of property to victims of an offense
petitioning for remission or mitigation of forfeiture under this
chapter;
(4) the disposition by the United States of forfeited property
by public sale or other commercially feasible means;
(5) the maintenance and safekeeping of any property forfeited
under this section pending its disposition; and
(6) the compromise of claims arising under this chapter.
Pending the promulgation of such regulations, all provisions of law
relating to the disposition of property, or the proceeds from the
sale thereof, or the remission or mitigation of forfeitures for
violation of the customs laws, and the compromise of claims and the
award of compensation to informers in respect of such forfeitures
shall apply to forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been
incurred, under the provisions of this section, insofar as
applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions hereof. Such
duties as are imposed upon the Customs Service or any person with
respect to the disposition of property under the customs law shall
be performed under this chapter by the Attorney General.
(i) Except as provided in subsection (l), no party claiming an
interest in property subject to forfeiture under this section may -
(1) intervene in a trial or appeal of a criminal case involving
the forfeiture of such property under this section; or
(2) commence an action at law or equity against the United
States concerning the validity of his alleged interest in the
property subsequent to the filing of an indictment or information
alleging that the property is subject to forfeiture under this
section.
(j) The district courts of the United States shall have
jurisdiction to enter orders as provided in this section without
regard to the location of any property which may be subject to
forfeiture under this section or which has been ordered forfeited
under this section.
(k) In order to facilitate the identification or location of
property declared forfeited and to facilitate the disposition of
petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture, after the
entry of an order declaring property forfeited to the United States
the court may, upon application of the United States, order that
the testimony of any witness relating to the property forfeited be
taken by deposition and that any designated book, paper, document,
record, recording, or other material not privileged be produced at
the same time and place, in the same manner as provided for the
taking of depositions under Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure.
(l)(1) Following the entry of an order of forfeiture under this
section, the United States shall publish notice of the order and of
its intent to dispose of the property in such manner as the
Attorney General may direct. The Government may also, to the extent
practicable, provide direct written notice to any person known to
have alleged an interest in the property that is the subject of the
order of forfeiture as a substitute for published notice as to
those persons so notified.
(2) Any person, other than the defendant, asserting a legal
interest in property which has been ordered forfeited to the United
States pursuant to this section may, within thirty days of the
final publication of notice or his receipt of notice under
paragraph (1), whichever is earlier, petition the court for a
hearing to adjudicate the validity of his alleged interest in the
property. The hearing shall be held before the court alone, without
a jury.
(3) The petition shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty
of perjury and shall set forth the nature and extent of the
petitioner's right, title, or interest in the property, the time
and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right,
title, or interest in the property, any additional facts supporting
the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought.
(4) The hearing on the petition shall, to the extent practicable
and consistent with the interests of justice, be held within thirty
days of the filing of the petition. The court may consolidate the
hearing on the petition with a hearing on any other petition filed
by a person other than the defendant under this subsection.
(5) At the hearing, the petitioner may testify and present
evidence and witnesses on his own behalf, and cross-examine
witnesses who appear at the hearing. The United States may present
evidence and witnesses in rebuttal and in defense of its claim to
the property and cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing.
In addition to testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, the
court shall consider the relevant portions of the record of the
criminal case which resulted in the order of forfeiture.
(6) If, after the hearing, the court determines that the
petitioner has established by a preponderance of the evidence that -
(A) the petitioner has a legal right, title, or interest in the
property, and such right, title, or interest renders the order of
forfeiture invalid in whole or in part because the right, title,
or interest was vested in the petitioner rather than the
defendant or was superior to any right, title, or interest of the
defendant at the time of the commission of the acts which gave
rise to the forfeiture of the property under this section; or
(B) the petitioner is a bona fide purchaser for value of the
right, title, or interest in the property and was at the time of
purchase reasonably without cause to believe that the property
was subject to forfeiture under this section;
the court shall amend the order of forfeiture in accordance with
its determination.
(7) Following the court's disposition of all petitions filed
under this subsection, or if no such petitions are filed following
the expiration of the period provided in paragraph (2) for the
filing of such petitions, the United States shall have clear title
to property that is the subject of the order of forfeiture and may
warrant good title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee.
(m) If any of the property described in subsection (a), as a
result of any act or omission of the defendant -
(1) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
(2) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third
party;
(3) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
(4) has been substantially diminished in value; or
(5) has been commingled with other property which cannot be
divided without difficulty;
the court shall order the forfeiture of any other property of the
defendant up to the value of any property described in paragraphs
(1) through (5).
SOURCE
(Added Pub. L. 91-452, title IX, Sec. 901(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84
Stat. 943; amended Pub. L. 98-473, title II, Secs. 302, 2301(a)-
(c), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2040, 2192; Pub. L. 99-570, title I,
Sec. 1153(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-13; Pub. L. 99-646,
Sec. 23, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3597; Pub. L. 100-690, title VII,
Secs. 7034, 7058(d), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4398, 4403; Pub. L.
101-647, title XXXV, Sec. 3561, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4927.)
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Federal Rules of Evidence, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), are
set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial
Procedure.
AMENDMENTS
1990 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-647 substituted "or both" for "or
both." in introductory provisions.
1988 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 7058(d), substituted
"shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20
years (or for life if the violation is based on a racketeering
activity for which the maximum penalty includes life imprisonment),
or both." for "shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned
not more than twenty years, or both".
Subsecs. (m), (n). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 7034, redesignated
former subsec. (n) as (m) and substituted "act or omission" for
"act of omission".
1986 - Subsecs. (c) to (m). Pub. L. 99-646 substituted "(l)" for
"(m)" in subsec. (c), redesignated subsecs. (e) to (m) as (d) to
(l), respectively, and substituted "(l)" for "(m)" in subsec. (i)
as redesignated.
Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 99-570 added subsec. (n).
1984 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 2301(a), inserted "In
lieu of a fine otherwise authorized by this section, a defendant
who derives profits or other proceeds from an offense may be fined
not more than twice the gross profits or other proceeds." following
par. (3).
Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 302, amended subsec. (a) generally,
designating existing provisions as pars. (1) and (2), inserting
par. (3), and provisions following par. (3) relating to power of
the court to order forfeiture to the United States.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 302, amended subsec. (b)
generally, substituting provisions relating to property subject to
forfeiture, for provisions relating to jurisdiction of the district
courts of the United States.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 302, amended subsec. (c)
generally, substituting provisions relating to transfer of rights,
etc., in property to the United States, or to other transferees,
for provisions relating to seizure and transfer of property to the
United States and procedures related thereto.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 2301(b), struck out subsec. (d)
which provided: "If any of the property described in subsection
(a): (1) cannot be located; (2) has been transferred to, sold to,
or deposited with, a third party; (3) has been placed beyond the
jurisdiction of the court; (4) has been substantially diminished in
value by any act or omission of the defendant; or (5) has been
commingled with other property which cannot be divided without
difficulty; the court shall order the forfeiture of any other
property of the defendant up to the value of any property described
in paragraphs (1) through (5)."
Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 302, added subsec. (d).
Subsecs. (e) to (m). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 302, added subsecs. (d)
to (m).
Subsec. (m)(1). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 2301(c), struck out "for at
least seven successive court days" after "dispose of the property".
TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of
the United States Customs Service of the Department of the
Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury
relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for
treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d),
552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department
of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as
modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
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