Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) “Enterprise” includes any sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, and any union or group of individuals associated for a particular purpose although not a legal entity.

(b) “Person” includes any individual or entity capable of holding a legal or beneficial interest in property.

(c) “Racketeering activity” means any act or threat involving murder, kidnapping, gambling, arson in the first, second, or third degree, robbery, bribery, extortion, larceny or prostitution, or any dealing in narcotic or dangerous drugs that is chargeable as a crime under state law and punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, or child exploitations for commercial or immoral purposes in violation of § 11-9-1(b) or (c) or § 11-9-1.1.

(d) “Unlawful debt” means a debt incurred or contracted in an illegal gambling activity or business or that is unenforceable under state law in whole or in part as to principal or interest because of the law relating to usury.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2022 · leading case: State v. Adrian Hazard, 68 A.3d 479 (R.I. 2013).
State v. Adrian Hazard, 68 A.3d 479 (R.I. 2013). · cites it 12× “at 599 (quoting § 7-15-1).6 The defendant argued that the phrase ―which is [chargeable] as a crime under state law and punishable by imprisonment for more than one (1) year‖ applied to each of the listed offenses.”
State v. Brown, 486 A.2d 595 (R.I. 1985). · cites it 5× “Apparently Brown ignored one alleged act of bribery carrying the operative date of July 10, 1979, but he argues on appeal that this act is insufficient to satisfy the definition of racketeering activity found in § 7-15-1. We disagree. The first count of the indictment alleges…”
Nat'l Credit Union Admin. Bd. v. Regine, 749 F. Supp. 401 (D.R.I. 1990). · cites it 8× “, and for violation of RICO’s Rhode Island counterpart, R.I.Gen.Laws § 7-15-1 et seq. Plaintiff also alleges state law claims against all defendants for breach of contract and against defendant Regine for negligence, recklessness and breach of fiduciary duties.”
In Re Frank Giorgio & Pauline Giorgio, Debtors. John Boyajian, Tr. v. Alan J. Defusco, Etc., 862 F.2d 933 (1st Cir. 1988). · cites it 3× “Laws § 6-26-4 (1985) (contract charging interest in excess of maximum rate is void, and borrower entitled to recover amount paid); R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 7-15-1 et seq. (1985) (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act).”
Boyajian v. DeFusco (In Re Giorgio), 62 B.R. 853 (Bankr. D.R.I. 1986). · cites it 5× “LAWS §§ 7-15-1 to 7-15-11 (1985 Reenactment), seeking treble damages ($150,000).”
Roma Constr. Co. & Peter Zanni v. Ralph R. Arusso, 96 F.3d 566 (1st Cir. 1996). “§ 1964 (a), and R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1 et seq. (“state RICO”); and (2) Roma’s civil rights claims against the individual defendants and the Town under 42 U.”
Nat'l Credit Union Admin. Bd. v. Regine, 795 F. Supp. 59 (D.R.I. 1992). · cites it 2× “§§ 7-15-1 through 7-15-11, must be dismissed.”
Von Bulow by Auersperg v. Von Bulow, 634 F. Supp. 1284 (S.D.N.Y. 1986). “The Rhode Island RICO statute, R.I.Gen. Laws § 7-15-1 et seq., is identical to the federal provision with one important exception: Its definition of "enterprise” does not include the word “individual.”
Sheehan v. Richardson, 315 B.R. 226 (D.R.I. 2004). · cites it 2× “” R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1(d) (1985). The statute defines “unlawful debt” as debt incurred or contracted for which is unenforceable under state law in whole or part as to principal or interest because of the law relating to usury.”
Boyajian v. DeFusco (In Re Giorgio), 50 B.R. 327 (D.R.I. 1985). “, §§ 7-15-1 et seq., and the fourth count alleged a federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violation.”
Boyajian v. DeFusco (In Re Giorgio), 81 B.R. 766 (D.R.I. 1988). · cites it 2× “The Bankruptcy Court’s determination that the Rhode Island RICO statute (R.I.Gen. Laws §§ 7-15-1 — 7-15-11) was violated raises a host of, as yet, unresolved issues.”
Vitone v. Metro. Life Ins., 943 F. Supp. 192 (D.R.I. 1996). “Laws § 7-15-1 (c) (1992). 16 . Plaintiff raises this issue even though no motion has been made to compel the arbitration of any of the claims against the John Doe defendants.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1(c) — 1 case
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1(d) — 2 cases
Sheehan v. Richardson, 315 B.R. 226 (D.R.I. 2004). “” R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-15-1(d) (1985). The statute defines “unlawful debt” as debt incurred or contracted for which is unenforceable under state law in whole or part as to principal or interest because of the law relating to usury.”
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