The primary reason (as has been admitted by the feds) for not having utilized the Rico laws in earlier years, although Rico was formed in the year 1970, is because prosecutors were largely unfamiliar with its complex rules and structure. They basically avoided it because they did not understand the complexity of it.

But by the late 1970s prosecutors in several jurisdictions decided to delve into it and attempted get a handle on its use. After several successful prosecutions they realized how exceptionally valuable Rico could be to them as they started to understand how to apply it.

By the early 1980s it was being used more regularly. From the point in time it has become the primary tool used to dismantle criminal organizations (LCN primarily), as well as, their primary tool to strip illicit money from those same people.

PS: at its core, Rico is largely unconstitutional. Yet, the FBI, federal prosecutors, as well as magistrates and judges, close their eyes to this in order to 'beat' the Mafia. When these convictions go before the appeals courts the convictions are generally rubber-stamped by those panels as well.

It is a lopsided 'game' that the U.S. Government had to employ in order to disrupt the power of LCN. Otherwise you would still have wise guys as powerful as they have always been since the 1920s. It was the beginning of the end of power.

If you notice the enactment of Rico correlates with the destruction of the Mafia. It's heavy-handed penal laws has led to the plethora of stool pigeons into witness protection, relocation; stripping of labor unions, business and cartel infiltration and domination, nationwide rackets, asset seizure, draconian sentences, etc. Many states even followed suit and created their own 'state' version of Rico.

G.Robert Blakey is the 'creator' of it. He was commissioned to close all 'loopholes' in any given law so the G would have the upper hand, and regardless of its legality or illegality, Rico is here to stay.

The G threw the constitution went out the window to win so to speak. And it took fifty years more, but they largely did win because today LCN is a shell of its former self. And its very foundation is cracked to its core....and it ain't coming back.

Nowadays prosecutors are absolutely in love with Rico. It allows them 'carte blanche' and they rarely worry about their use of it being deemed inappropriate by the courts. It basically allows them to charge anybody with anything. They use it against everyone. It's a dangerous law, and the G gas set a very dangerous precedence with its use. You get in its way? You'll get steamrolled. Any schmuck prosecutor just apply good ole "Rico" and the chances of any defendant winning his case is 'nill'

Prosecutors can literally throw the rest of the hundreds of penal law violations out the window. No more need for a law handbook. They use 1 law; Rico!!!

It is a very bad law IMO.