---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1962"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1962"
heading: "Prohibited activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1962"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 96 — Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations"
---

# §1962. Prohibited activities

- (a) It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who has received any income derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of [racketeering activity](/usc/18/1961.md?p=1) or through collection of an [unlawful debt](/usc/18/1961.md?p=6) in which such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) has participated as a principal within the meaning of [section 2](/usc/18/2.md), [title 18](/usc/18.md), United States Code, to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of, any [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4) which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2). A purchase of securities on the open market for purposes of investment, and without the intention of controlling or participating in the control of the issuer, or of assisting another to do so, shall not be unlawful under this subsection if the securities of the issuer held by the purchaser, the [members](/usc/18/1093.md?p=4) of his immediate family, and his or their accomplices in any pattern or [racketeering activity](/usc/18/1961.md?p=1) or the collection of an [unlawful debt](/usc/18/1961.md?p=6) after such purchase do not amount in the aggregate to one percent of the outstanding securities of any one class, and do not confer, either in law or in fact, the power to elect one or more directors of the issuer.
- (b) It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) through a pattern of [racketeering activity](/usc/18/1961.md?p=1) or through collection of an [unlawful debt](/usc/18/1961.md?p=6) to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4) which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2).
- (c) It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) employed by or associated with any [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4) engaged in, or the activities of which affect, [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2), to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such [enterprise](/usc/18/1961.md?p=4)’s affairs through a pattern of [racketeering activity](/usc/18/1961.md?p=1) or collection of [unlawful debt](/usc/18/1961.md?p=6).
- (d) It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection [(a)](#a), [(b)](#b), or [(c)](#c) of this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 91–452, title IX, § 901(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 942; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7033, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4398.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–690 substituted “subsection” for “subsections”.