RICO, or the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law that was enacted in 1970 to combat organized crime. It defines a "Pattern of Racketeering Activity" as two or more related acts of criminal activity that are committed by a person or a group of people in order to obtain money or other personal gain. The types of criminal activity include but are not limited to bribery, extortion, fraud, trafficking in contraband, money laundering, embezzlement, obstruction of justice, and other related crimes. The pattern of racketeering activity must be continuous over a period of time, and must be performed in a manner that would support criminal prosecution under state or federal law. In addition, the activities must be related to a criminal enterprise, such as an organized crime group, or the proceeds must be used to finance a criminal enterprise in order for the pattern of racketeering activity to be defined under RICO.