RICO — "Enterprise;" Association in Fact Defined is a legal term used in the United States to describe any organization or group of individuals associated in fact, but not necessarily a legal entity. The term is often used in reference to organized crime and is defined in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Different types of RICO enterprise associations may include criminal gangs, drug cartels, terrorist networks, organized crime families, and other conspiracies. The term is also used to describe legitimate organizations, such as corporations and partnerships, that are run as criminal enterprises. Under the RICO Act, an association in fact may be held liable for criminal acts committed in its name.