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NCJ Number:
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NCJ 187085
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Title:
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Threat of Russian Organized Crime
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Author(s):
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James O. Finckenauer ; Yuri A. Voronin
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Date Published:
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06/01/2001 |
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Page Count:
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40 |
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Sponsoring Agency:
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Grant Number:
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1999-IJ-CX-0014 |
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Sale Source:
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National Institute of Justice/NCJRS
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849
United States
NCJRS Photocopy Services
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
United States |
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Document:
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Text PDF |
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Agency Summary:
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Agency Summary |
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Type:
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Issue overviews |
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Language:
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English |
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Country:
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United States |
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Annotation:
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This analysis of the threat of Russian organized crime to the
United States focuses on its characteristics, origin, activities,
and methods. |
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Abstract:
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The general definition of "organized crime" used in this paper is "crime committed by criminal organizations whose existence has continuity over time and across crimes, and that use systematic violence and corruption to facilitate their criminal activities." The distinctiveness of Russian organized crime is the degree to which it is embedded in the post-Soviet political system. The transnational character of Russian organized crime, when combined with its high degree of sophistication and ruthlessness, has made it a global concern. In tracing the historical, political, and economic contextual features of Russian organized crime, this
paper discusses actions by the Russian government since 1991 to
cope with its crime problem. It also presents a case study of
organized crime in the Urals region of Russia. The paper concludes with a discussion of the actual and potential impacts of Russian organized crime on the United States. The latter discussion notes that the greatest threat to the West, the United States in particular, comes from the expansion of Urals-based
criminal activities abroad. It is estimated that some 12 to 15
loosely categorized criminal groups with international ties to
Russia or other former Soviet republics are currently operating
in the United States, having an estimated 500-600 members. These
varied criminal groups are extensively involved in a broad array of frauds and scams, including health care fraud, insurance scams, stock frauds, antiquities swindles, forgery, and fuel tax evasion schemes. Russians have become the principal ethnic group involved in credit-card fraud in the United States. The
laundering of the huge profits of Russian organized crime abroad
is increasing its penetration into legitimate sectors of the
global economy, and Federal and regional governments do not have
the resources to counter its money-based power and influence.
Legitimate businesses, including the movie business and textile
industry, have become targets of criminals from the former Soviet
Union. Countering transnational organized crime networks will
require a costly and lengthy international effort in which the
United States must play a major role. 26 notes |
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Main Term(s):
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Criminology |
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Index Term(s):
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Criminal infiltration of business ; Organized crime ; International cooperation ; Money laundering ; Organized crime causes ; NIJ grant-related documents ; Russian Federation ; Transnational Organized Crime |
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Note:
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NIJ Issues in International Crime |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=187085
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* A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents
not available online, a link to the publisher's web site is provided.
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