How is "an enterprise" viewed under RICO?

"An enterprise" under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is defined as an ongoing organization that engages in racketeering activities. This can include legitimate businesses that conduct illegal activities, as well as criminal groups that operate in a structured manner to commit crimes. The focus is on the continuity and organization of the group, emphasizing that it functions as a collective unit in separate illegal enterprises.

In this context, the concept does not apply to isolated individuals or small informal groups, such as friends casually planning a crime or a single gang member acting independently. The RICO statute specifically targets organizations that engage in a series of criminal acts, which underscores the importance of ongoing activity and interrelations among members of the enterprise. This interpretation highlights the serious nature of organized crime and the law's intent to dismantle these networks that pose significant threats to society.