Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 11. ORGANIZED CRIME · CHAPTER 71. ORGANIZED CRIME
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 71.02 (2026)

Engaging In Organized Criminal Activity

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 71.02. ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

Text of subsection as reenacted and amended by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 1646), Sec. 1.06


(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang or foreign terrorist organization, the person commits or conspires to commit one or more of the following:

(1) murder, capital murder, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual, solicitation of a minor, forgery, deadly conduct, assault punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, burglary of a motor vehicle, or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle;

(2) any gambling offense punishable as a Class A misdemeanor;

(3) promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, or compelling prostitution;

(4) unlawful manufacture, transportation, repair, or sale of firearms or prohibited weapons;

(5) unlawful manufacture, delivery, dispensation, or distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug, or unlawful possession of a controlled substance or dangerous drug:

(A) through forgery, fraud, misrepresentation, or deception; or

(B) with the intent to deliver the controlled substance or dangerous drug;

(5-a) causing the unlawful delivery, dispensation, or distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug in violation of Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code;

(5-b) any unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance or dangerous drug;

(5-c) unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1-B under Section 481.1022, Health and Safety Code;

(6) any unlawful wholesale promotion or possession of any obscene material or obscene device with the intent to wholesale promote the same;

(7) any offense under Subchapter B, Chapter 43, depicting or involving conduct by or directed toward a child younger than 18 years of age;

(8) any felony offense under Chapter 32;

(9) any offense under Chapter 36;

(10) any offense under Chapter 34, 35, or 35A;

(11) any offense under Section 37.11(a);

(12) any offense under Chapter 20A;

(13) any offense under Section 37.10;

(14) any offense under Section 38.06, 38.07, 38.09, or 38.11;

(15) any offense under Section 42.10;

(16) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) or 46.14;

(17) any offense under Section 20.05, 20.06, or 20.07;

(18) any offense under Section 16.02;

(19) any offense punishable under Section 42.03(d) or (e);

(20) an offense under Section 28.03 that is punishable under Subsection (b)(4)(E) or (l) of that section;

(21) an offense under:

(A) Section 31.21 that is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section; or

(B) Section 31.22 that is punishable under Subsection (e) of that section;

(22) any offense classified as a felony under the Tax Code; or

(23) any offense under Section 545.420, Transportation Code.

Text of subsection as reenacted and amended by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 756 (S.B. 20), Sec. 3


(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang or foreign terrorist organization, the person commits or conspires to commit one or more of the following:

(1) murder, capital murder, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual, solicitation of a minor, forgery, deadly conduct, assault punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, burglary of a motor vehicle, or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle;

(2) any gambling offense punishable as a Class A misdemeanor;

(3) promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, or compelling prostitution;

(4) unlawful manufacture, transportation, repair, or sale of firearms or prohibited weapons;

(5) unlawful manufacture, delivery, dispensation, or distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug, or unlawful possession of a controlled substance or dangerous drug:

(A) through forgery, fraud, misrepresentation, or deception; or

(B) with the intent to deliver the controlled substance or dangerous drug;

(5-a) causing the unlawful delivery, dispensation, or distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug in violation of Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code;

(6) any unlawful wholesale promotion or possession of any obscene material or obscene device with the intent to wholesale promote the same;

(7) any offense under Subchapter B, Chapter 43, depicting or involving conduct by or directed toward a child younger than 18 years of age;

(8) any felony offense under Chapter 32;

(9) any offense under Chapter 36;

(10) any offense under Chapter 34, 35, or 35A;

(11) any offense under Section 37.11(a);

(12) any offense under Chapter 20A;

(13) any offense under Section 37.10;

(14) any offense under Section 38.06, 38.07, 38.09, or 38.11;

(15) any offense under Section 42.10;

(16) any offense under Section 43.235;

(17) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) or 46.14;

(18) any offense under Section 20.05, 20.06, or 20.07;

(19) any offense under Section 16.02;

(20) any offense punishable under Section 42.03(d) or (e);

(21) an offense under Section 28.03 that is punishable under Subsection (b)(4)(E) of that section;

(22) an offense under Section 31.21 that is punishable under Subsection (d) of that section;

(23) any offense classified as a felony under the Tax Code; or

(24) any offense under Section 545.420, Transportation Code.

(b) Except as provided in Subsections (c), (d), and (e), an offense under this section is one category higher than the most serious offense listed in Subsection (a) that was committed, and if the most serious offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the offense is a state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the first degree punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for:

(1) life without parole, if the most serious offense is an aggravated sexual assault and if at the time of that offense the defendant is 18 years of age or older and:

(A) the victim of the offense is younger than six years of age;

(B) the victim of the offense is younger than 14 years of age and the actor commits the offense in a manner described by Section 22.021(a)(2)(A); or

(C) the victim of the offense is younger than 17 years of age and suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the offense;

(2) life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 30 years if the most serious offense is an offense under Section 20.06 that is punishable under Subsection (g) of that section; or

(3) life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 15 years if the most serious offense is an offense punishable as a felony of the first degree, other than an offense described by Subdivision (1) or (2).

(c) Notwithstanding Section 15.02(d), a conspiracy to commit an offense under this section is punishable in the same manner as an offense under this section.

(d) At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether in voluntary and complete renunciation of the offense he withdrew from the combination before commission of an offense listed in Subsection (a) and made substantial effort to prevent the commission of the offense. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence the offense is the same category of offense as the most serious offense listed in Subsection (a) that is committed.

(e) An offense that is punishable as a second degree felony or as any lower category of offense under Subsection (b) is one additional category higher than the category listed under Subsection (b) if the person used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of one or more of the offenses listed under Subsection (a) and if an offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor under Subsection (b), the offense is a state jail felony.

Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 922, ch. 346, Sec. 1, eff. June 10, 1977. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2373, ch. 587, Sec. 1 to 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 782, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 761, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, Sec. 9, eff. May 21, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 685, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 641, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1162 (H.B. 3376), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 126), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 153 (S.B. 2225), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1130 (H.B. 2086), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1357 (S.B. 554), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 68 (S.B. 934), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 20.003, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 223 (H.B. 260), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 620 (S.B. 688), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1200 (S.B. 158), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1200 (S.B. 158), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 16.005, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1252 (H.B. 8), Sec. 21, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1325 (S.B. 549), Sec. 4(b), eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 333 (H.B. 11), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 253 (H.B. 869), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 221 (H.B. 375), Sec. 2.27, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 269 (S.B. 224), Sec. 2.05, eff. May 29, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 369 (H.B. 1442), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 462 (S.B. 1900), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885 (H.B. 4635), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 910 (H.B. 6), Sec. 21, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 319 (S.B. 1646), Sec. 1.06, eff. May 30, 2025.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 756 (S.B. 20), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2025.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 514 cases (70 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: Hart v. State, 89 S.W.3d 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
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Hart v. State, 89 S.W.3d 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). · cites it 8× “" Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. The term combination means "three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities.”
O'Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). · cites it 9× “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. O'Brien v. State , 482 S.”
Brosky v. State, 915 S.W.2d 120 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996). · cites it 11× “See TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02 (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Nwosoucha v. State, 325 S.W.3d 816 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010). · cites it 4× “” See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 71.02 (a)(1) (Vernon Supp.”
Harrell v. State, 884 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). · cites it 4× “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a)(5). [1] Initially, the Twelfth Court of Appeals reversed the conviction.”
Villa v. State, 514 S.W.3d 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). “"Criminal street gang” is defined as “three or more persons having a common identifying sign or symbol or an identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities.” Id. § 71.01(d). 32 . See supra at part I.”
Curiel v. State, 243 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. §§ 71.02 (Vernon Supp.”
Gonzalez v. State, 117 S.W.3d 831 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 71.02 (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Gonzalez v. State, 63 S.W.3d 865 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001). · cites it 4× “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 71.02(a)(1) (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Cary v. State, 507 S.W.3d 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a). The predicate offenses alleged in this case were bribery, money laundering, and tampering with a government document.”
Rodriguez v. State, 90 S.W.3d 340 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2002). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 71.02(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Barrera v. State, 321 S.W.3d 137 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010). · cites it 4× “aggravated kidnapping_” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 71.02 (a)(1) (Vernon Supp.”
Show all 514 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(13): 1 case
Santos Alcantara Barcenas v. State of Texas, No. 07-19-00249-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo June 29, 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a): 86 cases
Hart v. State, 89 S.W.3d 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). “" Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. The term combination means "three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities.”
O'Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. O'Brien v. State , 482 S.”
Cary v. State, 507 S.W.3d 750 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a). The predicate offenses alleged in this case were bribery, money laundering, and tampering with a government document.”
Curiel v. State, 243 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “See Tex. Pen.Code Ann. §§ 71.02 (Vernon Supp.”
Nwosoucha v. State, 325 S.W.3d 816 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010). “” See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 71.02 (a)(1) (Vernon Supp.”
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(1): 90 cases
Hart v. State, 89 S.W.3d 61 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). “" Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. The term combination means "three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities.”
Brosky v. State, 915 S.W.2d 120 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996). “See TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02 (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Villa v. State, 514 S.W.3d 227 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). “"Criminal street gang” is defined as “three or more persons having a common identifying sign or symbol or an identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities.” Id. § 71.01(d). 32 . See supra at part I.”
Gonzalez v. State, 63 S.W.3d 865 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001). “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 71.02(a)(1) (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Adi v. State, 94 S.W.3d 124 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2003).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(13): 1 case
Cary, Stacy Stine, No. PD-1341-14 (Tex. Crim. App. Aug. 4, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(15): 1 case
Brian Martin v. State, No. 05-14-00215-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas July 27, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(2): 7 cases
Brosky v. State, 915 S.W.2d 120 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996). “See TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02 (Vernon 1994 & Supp.”
Alcala v. Texas Webb Cnty., 625 F. Supp. 2d 391 (S.D. Tex. 2009).
Ex Parte Wilhelm, 901 S.W.2d 956 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995).
City of Dallas v. Hamilton, 132 S.W.3d 632 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2004).
Aetezaz Ahmad v. State, 615 S.W.3d 496 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2020).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(3): 1 case
McIntosh v. State, 52 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(5): 34 cases
Harrell v. State, 884 S.W.2d 154 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994). “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 71.02(a)(5). [1] Initially, the Twelfth Court of Appeals reversed the conviction.”
Charles Newman Smith, Jr. v. State, 500 S.W.3d 685 (Tex. App.—Austin 2016).
Castillo v. State, 810 S.W.2d 180 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
Garcia v. State, 32 S.W.3d 328 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000).
Ex Parte Ariza, 913 S.W.2d 215 (Tex. App.—Austin 1996).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(a)(8): 8 cases
O'Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. O'Brien v. State , 482 S.”
Batts v. State, 302 S.W.3d 419 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009).
Fredrick Jordan Batts v. State, No. 14-07-00865-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 17, 2009).
Nelson Isac Fernandez-Lopez v. State, No. 12-19-00133-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Sept. 9, 2020).
David Wayne Ford v. State of Texas, No. 03-19-00689-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 4, 2021).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(b): 24 cases
O'Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018). “Tex. Penal Code § 71.02. O'Brien v. State , 482 S.”
Alcala v. Texas Webb Cnty., 625 F. Supp. 2d 391 (S.D. Tex. 2009).
Joshua Jacob Patterson v. State, 496 S.W.3d 919 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016).
Samaripas v. State, 454 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014).
Ex parte Chaddock, 369 S.W.3d 880 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(b)(3): 2 cases
Jeffery Scott Estrada v. State, 570 S.W.3d 402 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019).
Carlos Alfredo Zuniga v. State, No. 14-18-00630-CR (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 5, 2019).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(c): 5 cases
McIntosh v. State, 52 S.W.3d 196 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001).
McLaren, Richard Lance v. State, 104 S.W.3d 268 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2003).
James Dewayne Carter v. State, 196 S.W.3d 406 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2006).
Benson v. Lumpkin, No. 1:23-cv-00876 (W.D. Tex. Apr. 25, 2024).
Nakia DeShawn Lewis v. State, No. 03-15-00028-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 7, 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 71.02(d): 2 cases
Hall v. State, 160 S.W.3d 24 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).
Hall, Michael Wayne, No. AP-73,787 (Tex. Crim. App. May 5, 2004).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.