# Organized Crime Control Act of 1970: 84 Stat. 922-962 (Public Law 91-452), 15 October 1970

Canonical: https://mobfiles.org/items/statutes-at-large-84-stat-922-organized-crime-control-act/

"An Act Relating to the control of organized crime in the United States", with titles on special grand juries, witness immunity, recalcitrant witnesses, protected housing for government witnesses, syndicated gambling, racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO), dangerous special offenders and explosives.

Public Law 91-452 (S. 30), dated October 15, 1970, is "An Act Relating to the control of organized crime in the United States" and "may be cited as the 'Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.'" The govinfo PDF begins on page 922 with the end of two earlier public laws; this Act's heading is printed partway down the page, and its "Approved October 15, 1970" line follows Title XIII.

The Statement of Findings and Purpose says the Congress finds that "organized crime in the United States is a highly sophisticated, diversified, and widespread activity that annually drains billions of dollars from America's economy by unlawful conduct and the illegal use of force, fraud, and corruption" (84 Stat. 922). It names "syndicated gambling, loan sharking, the theft and fencing of property, the importation and distribution of narcotics and other dangerous drugs" as sources of that money, and states the Act's purpose "to seek the eradication of organized crime in the United States" by strengthening the legal tools in the evidence-gathering process, by establishing new penal prohibitions, and "by providing enhanced sanctions and new remedies to deal with the unlawful activities of those engaged in organized crime."

Its titles include special grand juries (Title I), general immunity (Title II), recalcitrant witnesses (Title III), protected facilities for housing government witnesses (Title V), syndicated gambling (Title VIII), Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Title IX), dangerous special offender sentencing (Title X) and regulation of explosives (Title XI). Titles V, VIII (Part C) and IX are filed as their own pages. The FBI's history timeline says: "Congress approved the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. This law contained a section known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act or RICO."

The Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute is not part of this Act. It is section 408 of Public Law 91-513, signed twelve days later, and is filed separately.

## Sources

- U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), United States Statutes at Large, vol. 84: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg922-3.pdf
- FBI, A Brief History of the FBI: Timeline: https://www.fbi.gov/history/timeline