Abstract
Russian criminal enterprises are commonly understood among researchers and
practitioners as an unconventional addition to the umbrella of existing organized crime
groups. Recent literature attempts to convey Russian organized crime (ROC) as a
significant threat to the U.S. by pinning the sophistication of Russian enterprises against
the traditional methods of mafia groups. This thesis uses a combination of relevant
literature and previously defined threat assessment variables as groundwork to establish
ROC as a security threat in the U.S. Ultimately, results from this study suggest that ROC
should be considered a national security threat, and establishes a geographic pattern of
high- risk activity per region.
