# Danny Lee execution. Why a federal crime?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 15, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357 "2020-07-15T01:23:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/1 "2020-07-15T01:23:44Z")

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Danny Lee was executed by federal authorities for the murder of an Arkansas family. How were the murders a federal crime?

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/2 "2020-07-15T01:30:57Z")

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Murder in aid of racketeering. That makes it a Federal crime.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/3 "2020-07-15T01:32:32Z")

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How was he in a racket?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/4 "2020-07-15T01:33:04Z")

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> A jury convicted Daniel Lewis Lee of conspiring to violate and violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1962(c) and (d), and of three murders in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959. The jury also returned a verdict of death and a death sentence was imposed.

United States vs Lee.

From here - [https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-8th-circuit/1344687.html](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-8th-circuit/1344687.html)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/5 "2020-07-15T01:56:19Z")

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> [@Duckster](#):
>
> United States vs Lee.

Thanks, Duckster.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danny-lee-execution-why-a-federal-crime/915357/6 "2020-07-15T01:59:22Z")

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And, by the way, Jesus Christ he deserved it.