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Maps
Chicago, IL, USA
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By Monique Garcia
Tribune reporter
4:06 p.m. CDT, June 11, 2012
Local prosecutors have a new way to target street gangs under a measure Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law today.
The new law is modeled after the federal racketeering law known as RICO, which was originally designed to target mobsters but in recent years has been used repeatedly by the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago to target the top leadership of street gangs.
Now the state version will allow county prosecutors to take similar action against a street gang as a whole, instead of individual members.
"We may convict the soldier, but we never get the general," said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, whose office drafted the legislation. "This bill will allow us to attack gangs in a different way."
The law is aimed at gangs engaged in a pattern of crimes, ranging from drug offenses and sex trafficking to robbery, murder and weapons violations. Different crimes can be grouped into one criminal proceeding, allowing prosecutors to paint a more complete picture of a gang's criminal activity for judges and juries.
Gang members who are convicted of criminal conspiracy under the law could face more than 30 years in prison. Fines could top $250,000. The government also would be able to seize gang assets such as drug proceeds, real estate and other holdings.
Going after the money is key to dismantling the street gangs that plague Chicago, said Quinn.
"We're warning those gang criminals that we're coming after you," Quinn said.
chicagobreaking@tribune.com
Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking
