When prosecutors charge COCCA in Boulder County, they’re not just charging a crime – they’re trying to dismantle what they claim is an entire criminal enterprise. The Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) transforms individual acts into a web of racketeering charges that can send you to prison for decades.
Don’t wait until prosecutors have built an insurmountable case. The moment you suspect you’re under investigation, contact our Boulder COCCA defense lawyer at Dawson Law Office. COCCA investigations move fast, evidence disappears, and witnesses get flipped. Early intervention can mean the difference between freedom and decades in prison.
What Is COCCA and Why It’s Dangerous
COCCA is Colorado’s version of the federal RICO statute. Under C.R.S. § 18-17-104, prosecutors use it to connect seemingly unrelated acts into a pattern of “racketeering activity.
Here’s why these charges are so serious:
- Prosecutors can link crimes from the past 10 years
- Each count carries up to 24 years in prison
- Mandatory prison sentences apply
- Asset forfeiture threatens everything you own
- Charges often combine state and federal investigations
How Prosecutors Build COCCA Cases
COCCA cases aren’t built overnight. Prosecutors spend months or years:
- Flipping lower-level participants
- Conducting surveillance
- Monitoring financial transactions
- Gathering electronic communications
- Building conspiracy connections
They don’t need to prove you committed every crime. They just need to show you were part of an “enterprise” and participated in two or more related criminal acts. That’s how someone with minimal involvement ends up facing decades in prison.
What Prosecutors Must Prove
For a COCCA conviction, prosecutors need to establish:
1. Enterprise
- Any group of individuals working together
- Doesn’t need formal structure
- Can be a legitimate business used for illegal purposes
- Must exist separate from the criminal acts themselves
2. Pattern of Racketeering
- At least two related criminal acts
- Within ten years of each other
- From a list of specific crimes, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Theft
- Fraud
- Money laundering
- Securities violations
- Murder
- Robbery
- Bribery
3. Participation
- Knowledge of the enterprise
- Some participation in its affairs
- Connection to the pattern of activity
Common Types of COCCA Cases
Prosecutors typically use COCCA for:
Drug Distribution Operations
They connect:
- Individual drug sales
- Money movements
- Phone records
- Property purchases
- Vehicle transfers
Financial Schemes
They link:
- Bank transactions
- Wire transfers
- Real estate deals
- Business operations
- Tax filings
Organized Criminal Activity
They combine:
- Theft rings
- Insurance fraud
- Money laundering
- Identity theft
- Forgery operations
How We Fight COCCA Charges
COCCA cases are complex, but they have weaknesses:
Attack the Enterprise
We challenge whether a real organization existed:
- Was there actual coordination?
- Did participants even know each other?
- Were acts truly connected?
- Did the enterprise exist separately from the crimes?
Challenge the Pattern
We break down the alleged racketeering acts:
- Are the crimes actually related?
- Can they prove each individual act?
- Are some acts too old to include?
- Do the acts show a real pattern?
Fight Individual Predicates
Each underlying crime must be proven:
- Challenge witness credibility
- Attack surveillance evidence
- Question financial analysis
- Expose investigation flaws
- Contest documentary evidence
Constitutional Challenges
We examine every aspect of the investigation:
- Search warrant validity
- Wiretap authorizations
- Surveillance techniques
- Witness statements
- Evidence collection
COCCA vs. Federal RICO
While similar to federal RICO, COCCA has important differences:
- Different statutory elements
- State court procedures apply
- Local investigation methods
- Distinct penalty structures
- Unique precedent law
Understanding these differences is crucial because:
- Defense strategies vary
- Evidence rules differ
- Negotiation tactics change
- Sentencing approaches vary
- Appeal rights differ
Why Experience Matters in COCCA Cases
Defending COCCA charges requires:
- Deep knowledge of complex conspiracy law
- Understanding of financial evidence
- Experience with massive document cases
- Ability to coordinate multiple defense strategies
- Skill in managing cooperating witnesses
These aren’t cases for lawyers who handle routine criminal matters. One mistake in a COCCA case can mean decades in prison.
Asset Forfeiture in COCCA Cases
Prosecutors don’t just want prison time – they want everything you own:
- Bank accounts
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Businesses
- Personal property
They can seize assets before trial and force you to prove they’re legitimate. This makes defending yourself even harder by limiting your resources.
Why Time is Critical
In COCCA cases, early intervention is crucial:
- Evidence disappears
- Witnesses get flipped
- Assets get frozen
- Options narrow
- Cooperation value diminishes
The prosecution starts with an advantage. The longer you wait to get experienced defense counsel, the harder the fight becomes.
Get Experienced COCCA Defense Now
At Dawson Law Office, we understand how COCCA cases work. We know how prosecutors build them, where they’re vulnerable, and how to fight them effectively. We bring:
- Deep experience with complex cases
- Understanding of conspiracy law
- Knowledge of financial evidence
- Trial readiness
- Strategic defense planning
Contact us today for a case evaluation. Let us show you how we can protect your rights, your freedom, and your assets against COCCA charges.
Remember: Prosecutors are already building their case. The time to act is now.
