Russian Organized Crime: Within the Parameters of a National Security Threat

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.