ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITYTexas Penal Code (PC) § 71.02(b)
Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is a first-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 71.02(b). It is punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY” mean?
Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is a first-degree felony under Texas PC § 71.02(b).
Texas Penal Code § 71.02 defines engaging in organized criminal activity. The State must prove the accused, with intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination, or as a member of a criminal street gang, committed or conspired to commit one of the predicate offenses the statute lists, which include murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and various controlled-substance felonies. A "combination," defined in Texas Penal Code § 71.01, means three or more persons who collaborate in carrying on criminal activities; conspiring to commit a predicate requires an agreement plus an overt act performed in pursuance of it. Under the grading rule in § 71.02(b), the offense is classified one category higher than the most serious predicate offense committed, so a first-degree felony filing reflects a second-degree felony predicate.
Also appears on court records as:
What usually happens to a ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY charge?
39% ended without a conviction, 24% in deferred adjudication and 35% in a conviction.
How 700 resolved ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 13 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin | 202 | 13% | 46% | 40% | 202 |
| Hays | 112 | 63% | 7% | 29% | 398 |
| Montgomery | 100 | 46% | 16% | 38% | 205 |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (5) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY case take to resolve?
Typically about 9 months: half of resolved cases closed within 274 days of filing.
Across 699 resolved ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 274 days. The middle half took between 140 and 490 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity in Texas?
5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-degree felony | 5 to 99 years or life in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.32 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY in Texas?
The median bail is $10,000, and 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 29,891 Texas bail settings for this charge (101 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $10,000 (middle half: $5,000 – $30,000). 5% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 1,801 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (4,408 records), the median was $20,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 3,921 | $5,000 | $1,500 – $15,000 | 1% | 3% |
| Travis | 2,061 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 21% | 2% |
| Dallas | 1,691 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 1% | 9% |
| Cameron | 1,249 | $20,000 | $7,000 – $50,000 | 4% | 2% |
| Hays | 1,101 | $5,000 | $2,500 – $15,000 | 19% | 1% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
Charged with ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.