The consultants at The Counterracketeering Group have directed and coordinated complex, sensitive, nationwide and international investigations of all racketeering crimes—crimes committed for financial gain. This includes drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, theft, securities/investment fraud, illegal gambling, counterfeit merchandise trafficking and public benefits fraud. They have prosecuted cases against the most serious criminals and their organizations (e.g., Mexican drug cartels), financial institutions, professional money launderers employing the most sophisticated money laundering techniques and tools, and every type of fraudster and racketeer.

The consultants have provided legal and policy assistance and training to federal, state and local prosecutors, as well as law enforcement agencies on using counterracketeering and asset forfeiture techniques as a fundamental law enforcement tool. They have assisted policymakers government-wide in developing and reviewing legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives—all while managing the entire asset forfeiture program responsible for the annual forfeiture of tens of millions of dollars of criminal assets, i.e. “guilty property” and the distribution of the proceeds of that sold, guilty property, i.e. “RICO funds” to law enforcement agencies and victims.

For the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Managing Director Aaron S. Ludwig and his team developed and implemented monthly, statewide counterracketeering and asset forfeiture training for law enforcement officers; drastically increased the speed of RICO funds distribution to law enforcement agencies and victims; increased the racketeering and asset forfeiture caseload by 300%, then increased the capacity of the office to handle this volume by customizing a database and designing and implementing forms, policies, and procedures; formed and led an intra-office working group to streamline the accounting, reporting, and forecasting of RICO funds; advised district/county attorneys and law enforcement agency command staff on the expenditure of RICO funds; and, appeared on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office at major case press conferences.

The Counterracketeering Group brings this vast depth of experience and subject matter expertise to provide highly customized, agency-specific services in the following areas:

TRAINING

Counterracketeering and asset forfeiture training in group, one-on-one, and/or train-the-trainer sessions and for executive-level/command staff on identifying racketeering investigations, building solid asset forfeiture cases, and making prosecution referrals thorough and complete.

CUSTOMIZED MANUALS

Development of counterracketeering and asset forfeiture policy/procedure and field manuals containing best-practices, checklists, forms, etc.

STRATEGY AND TACTICS

To accomplish law enforcement goals of pursuing guilty property, depriving racketeers of the profit that keeps them in business, alleviating the negative impact that racketeering has on legitimate commerce, deterring crime, and compensating victims, The Counterracketeering Group gives strategic and tactical advice on disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations by:

  1.  designing and implementing ENTERPRISE-WIDE counterracketeering and asset forfeiture STRATEGY
  2.  devising UNIT-LEVEL counterracketeering and asset forfeiture TACTICS
  3.  giving STEP-BY-STEP, ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE ON SPECIFIC counterracketeering and asset forfeiture CASES.  To handle the planned increase in volume of racketeering and asset forfeiture cases, The Counterracketeering Group designs systems and builds capacity by customizing databases, producing forms, implementing procedures, etc.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Training on how to respond to inquiries, counter inaccurate or negative publicity, and successfully win hearts and minds with respect to asset forfeitures and RICO fund expenditures.  Alternatively, The Counterracketeering Group will serve as the point-of-contact to handle the public relations.

RICO FUNDS

The Counterracketeering Group provides complete, fiscal guidance on RICO fund expenditure, accounting, reporting, etc. and consultants respond to inquiries, counter inaccurate or negative publicity, and successfully win hearts and minds with respect to asset forfeiture.  To handle the inevitable growth of RICO fund income that will come from the increased volume of racketeering and asset forfeiture cases, The Counterracketeering Group designs and implements systems and  builds and leads intra-office working groups with fiscal departments, impound/property management personnel, etc.