Wake North Carolina Jury Instruction — Interference With Commerce By Extortion — Hobbs Act – Racketeering – Color of Official Right In Wake North Carolina, the jury instructions pertaining to Interference with Commerce by Extortion, Hobbs Act, Racketeering, and Color of Official Right are crucial for understanding how unlawful activities can impact commerce and the economy. Let's delve into each of these instructions and their relevance in Wake North Carolina. 1. Interference With Commerce By Extortion: Interference With Commerce By Extortion involves activities that obstruct or hinder the flow of commerce by using fear, violence, or intimidation to extort money or property from individuals or businesses. This jury instruction serves to educate jurors on the elements of this crime and highlights the importance of preserving the integrity of commerce for the community's overall well-being. 2. Hobbs Act: The Hobbs Act is a federal law that condemns interference with commerce through robbery, extortion, or violence. It prohibits individuals from obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of articles or commodities in interstate or foreign commerce by means of extortion, force, or violence. The Wake North Carolina jury instruction on the Hobbs Act helps jurors comprehend the Act's provisions, enabling them to discern the defendant's guilt or innocence. 3. Racketeering: Racketeering refers to engaging in an organized endeavor involving illegal activities, such as extortion, embezzlement, bribery, or fraud. Under federal law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act targets individuals and entities involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. Wake North Carolina's jury instruction on racketeering elucidates the requirements for proving the existence of an ongoing criminal enterprise and the defendant's involvement therein. 4. Color of Official Right: Color of Official Right is another jury instruction relevant to cases involving corruption or bribery. This instruction focuses on situations where public officials, under the guise of their official duties, accept bribes or other valuable items in exchange for using their authority to benefit the bribe-giver. Wake North Carolina's jury instruction on Color of Official Right aims to educate jurors on identifying corrupt practices involving public officials and the legal consequences such actions entail. These Wake North Carolina jury instructions demonstrate the legal framework applied in cases involving Interference With Commerce By Extortion, Hobbs Act, Racketeering, and Color of Official Right. By providing jurors with detailed explanations and guidance, the instructions contribute to a fair and informed evaluation of the evidence presented in these complex cases.