In 1970, Congress gifted prosecutors with the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, intended to give crime fighters a powerful weapon to take down organized crime.
It became known as RICO, and at first, prosecutors were unsure what to make of it.
Previously, they could go after members of criminal organizations for their individual crimes, but they didn’t have a tool for dismantling an organization dedicated to illicit activity. They were skeptical that the new law would fill that void.
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/22/catholic-church-abuse-pennsylvania-priest-abuse-cover-up-rico-criminal-charges/1060325002/
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/08/22/catholic-church-abuse-pennsylvania-priest-abuse-cover-up-rico-criminal-charges/1060325002/