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Committee backs adding certain illegal-gambling crimes as RICO predicates
Summary
The committee voted to report House Bill 53, which would add illegal-gambling offenses (including public gambling, computer-based gambling and cockfighting) as predicate crimes under the state RICO statute, expanding prosecutorial authority and asset-forfeiture tools; the attorney general's office and multiple district attorneys filed support cards.
House Bill 53 was presented by Representative Fontenot and carries input from the Attorney General's gaming-division staff. Chief Deputy Attorney General Larry Freeman told the committee the Gaming Division suggested adding specific illegal-gambling crimes as predicates to the state RICO statute after investigators uncovered an alleged prison-based gambling operation reportedly generating roughly $2,000,000 annually.
Prosecutors from several judicial districts and the Louisiana District Attorneys Association filed support cards and did not seek to speak. The committee moved the bill out favorably by voice vote.
The bill will proceed to the Senate floor for further consideration.
