criminal enterprise
Illegal business operation
A criminal enterprise is an organized group engaged in ongoing illegal activity for profit or power.
The term appears frequently in law enforcement and legal contexts, where it triggers enhanced penalties: The racketeering charges require proving a criminal enterprise.
It covers everything from drug cartels and organized crime families to street gangs operating as businesses.
The enterprise aspect emphasizes structure and continuity—not isolated crimes but a coordinated operation.
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- crime familyCriminal organization by kinship
- bossWorkplace superior
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
organized crime · extortion · crime syndicate · omertà · hit man · money laundering · drug trafficking · crew · gang · human smuggling · underworld · investigation · shell company · front business · consigliere · RICO Act · federal charges · informant
- complicityaccomplice, aiding, abetting, complicity, co-conspirator
criminal enterprisecharitable organization
Nonprofit for public benefit
humanitarian organization · nonprofit organization · public service · philanthropic foundation · social enterprise
criminal enterprisepublic institution
Government-run organization serving citizens