The RICO statute referred to is called the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which grants extended penalties for crimes committed by organized groups.
Mosca tells his henchman "not to forget the cannoli". This is a reference to a murder of an informant in The Godfather (1972). Earlier, Mosca mentions something he had learned from an old don named Barzini, which is also a reference to the Godfather.
The show was repeated on Christmas Day, 1987, the only time the show aired on Christmas Day.
Stanley Tucci previously played a father who was going to testify against lawyer Howard Famiglia until he was intimidated not to in Baby Blues (1986).
This is the second time Crockett is thrown in jail for not revealing his informant's identity; the first was in Give a Little, Take a Little (1984).