organized crime

In terms of criminal activity, organized crime resembles a business company or corporation. The main purpose of an organized crime group is to make profit through illegal means (Laplante, Impact of OC on Society). By examining Pierre De Champlain definition of organized crime, the criminal business highlights economic consequences, such as money laundering and the hierarchical structure, that may occur when a Hells Angels member sets up a bar next door to a new restaurant owner.

To begin with, the definition of organized crime enables the understanding of the major consequences of a Hells Angels member attempt to legitimize his illegal profits. In Champlain’s definition, he say’s that organized crime is a “virus” that fixes itself onto the economic system of a capitalist society because they monopolize illegal services or markets (Champlain, Definition of Organized Crime). The virus grasps the economic energy out of society. Another way is to have control over markets, services or territories which lets organize crime latch on to the economic and capitalist society (Champlain, Definition of Organized Crime). This would mean that the criminal group would lower their prices to bring in a clientele, which causes an inconvenience to neighbouring businesses (Champlain, Definition of Organized Crime). For example, the Hells Angels is defined as “an international outlaw motorcycle group involved in illegal activity” (Definition of Hells Angels, Module 1]. They are notorious for being a biker gang involved in violence, drug trafficking, etc. In the death of Daniel Desrocher, a young boy was killed from a bomb that was planted from a Hells Angel gang for a rival gang (Danis, Module 1). It caused a public outrage and a social deman...

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...dangerous. Ergo, customers might not want to eat there anymore nor would anyone want to buy the restaurant if it were put on sell.

To conclude, Champlain’s definition of organized crime demonstrates that there are consequences associated to the criminal activity that might hinder a legitimate business. The central point was they could suffer the economic impact of the Hells Angels presence within their territory. Champlain explains that the criminal organization creates a black hole into the finances of society because it is hard to trace cash-only transactions. The major consequences a restaurant owner would have is economic ones. The Hells Angles are trying to legitimize their profits which will hinder those in close proximity. There is money laundering and the collateral damage that the restaurant owner might have to contend with to continue doing business.