Final answer:
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is the federal law that extends penalties for crimes committed as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal law that has extended penalties for crimes committed as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise is c. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This act allows for the leaders of a syndicate to be tried for the crimes they ordered others to do or assisted them in doing. It provides extended penalties for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization and allows for leaders of these entities to be charged with the crimes their subordinates committed under their instructions.
By contrast, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was implemented to protect investors from the possibility of corporate accounting fraud by enhancing financial disclosures and creating penalties for fraudulent financial activity by corporations. The Whistle Blower Act, on the other hand, provides protections for employees who report misconduct. Neither of these acts specifically targets ongoing criminal enterprises in the way that RICO does.