Going “Whole Hog”: Applying RICO Extraterritorially to Prosecute Pig-Butchering Scams

Sophia Cronin*

This Note discusses the under-explored operation known as “pig-butchering scams,” a phenomenon in which Southeast Asia-based criminal gangs direct human trafficking victims to trick unwitting victims via text message into transferring their fortunes into online accounts.  These organizations, enabled by corrupt local law enforcement, inflict devastating consequences on victims across the globe—including Americans.  This Note argues that U.S. law enforcement should bring RICO charges against the perpetrators of pig-butchering scams to effectively combat the criminal enterprises responsible for them.  Though this approach raises complicated questions about the extraterritoriality of the RICO statute, this Note concludes that RICO is an appropriate and useful strategy in addressing the criminal behavior at hand.

*Notes Editor, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law; J.D., Columbia Law School, 2026; B.A., Columbia-Sciences Po Dual BA Program, 2020.