Racketeering refers to criminal activity that is performed to benefit an organization such as a crime syndicate. Examples of racketeering activity include extortion, money laundering, loan sharking, obstruction of justice and bribery. (source Google)
I don't know what this case is about but let's review the definition of Racketeering...
- Extortion: Telling Kingdom Hall owners to fork over their property titles or face being removed as an elder or even being disfellowshipped.
- Money Laundering: Forcing congregations to remodel Kingdom Halls even if this isn't necessary or moving money from one Watchtower shell company to another and then funneling it to off shore hedge funds and other long-term speculative investments.
- Loan sharking: Forcing congregations to take out loans from the Watchtower to build new Kingdom Halls or remodel existing ones (whether this is even necessary or not).
- Obstruction of justice: Providing false testimony in court hearings (like they're doing right now in Australia).
- Bribery: How do you think the Watchtower is able to influence city officials in small town America whenever they need a permit to build a Kingdom Hall?
I'd say they're more than guilty of racketeering. In fact, they make the Gambino crime family look like boy scouts.