Sen. Greg Baca

Maddy summarySB 5 amends New Mexico's Racketeering Act to expand the definition of racketeering by adding specific crimes such as trafficking cannabis products, sexual exploitation of children, and dog fighting. The bill also establishes a new legal definition for a "criminal gang" as a group of three or more people with a common symbol or leadership who regularly commit crimes together. Under these changes, individuals who use illegal profits from a pattern of racketeering to control a business or force others to join the enterprise face felony charges and potential forfeiture of their assets.