Opinion ID: 787685
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relatedness of RICO Predicate Acts

Text: 55 Turning to the RICO statute, the Government is required to show, inter alia, that the racketeering predicates are related, and that they amount to or pose a threat of continued criminal activity. H.J. Inc. v. N.W. Bell Tel. Co., 492 U.S. 229, 239, 109 S.Ct. 2893, 106 L.Ed.2d 195 (1989) (emphasis omitted). To establish that the predicate acts are related, the Government must show that the racketeering acts relate both to one another and — of significance here — to the enterprise. See Polanco, 145 F.3d at 541; United States v. Minicone, 960 F.2d 1099, 1106 (2d Cir.1992); accord United States v. Corrado, 227 F.3d 543, 554 (6th Cir.2000). Relatedness between the racketeering acts and the enterprise can be proven by showing either that: (i) the offense related to the activities of the enterprise, or (ii) the defendant was able to commit the offense solely because of his position in the enterprise. Minicone, 960 F.2d at 1106; accord United States v. Miller, 116 F.3d 641, 676 (2d Cir.1997). Moreover, it is not necessary that the offense be in furtherance of the enterprise's activities for the offense to be related to the activities of the enterprise. Miller, 116 F.3d at 676. 56 We next examine the evidence relating to the involvement of Polito and Fortunato in the Shootings, in light of the foregoing legal analysis.