That is true. But being a member of the mafia is NOT a chargeable crime in and of itself.

Although he is recorded at a ceremony. Unless they have Lancellotti on tape ACTUALLY discussing a crime. (And induction in itself is not a crime). Lancelotti should not be charged.

He could be! After all, a prosecutor could make that leap of faith as you have proposed that he IS guilty of a crime by even being at the ceremony. But I DO NOT think that many prosecutors would run with that type of weak evidence. They want, they need, "predicate criminal acts" to justify an indictment.

NOW, if his men went out to commit crimes, and they have him on tape ordering his men to do so, they he can be charged. Even though he himself didn't go out and do them. Its "conspiracy" - he's conspired.

Thats why even to this day, the Rico laws are often misunderstood by lawyers, prosecutors, and judges themselves on occasion. They are sooo complex that it gets confusing on how to properly apply Rico.

And thats also what makes Rico so scary for defendants (mafia or not). The complex "rules" of Rico muck up the waters and fuck up many a defense.(and prosecution alike). Although I admit the prosecution has a tremendous upper hand when using Rico.