racketeering
Criminal enterprise activity
Racketeering is engaging in organized criminal activity for profit—extortion, fraud, loan sharking, illegal gambling, or other schemes typically run by syndicates.
The term gained legal precision through the U.S.
RICO Act, which targets patterns of criminal enterprise: The mobsters were convicted on racketeering charges.
A racket is any such illicit operation, and a racketeer runs one.
Federal anti-organized-crime act
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- federal chargesNational-level criminal accusations
forfeiture · asset seizure · plea deal · informant · wiretap · FBI · grand jury · criminal conspiracy
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- crime familyCriminal organization by kinship
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- Cosa NostraSicilian criminal organization
- outfitSet of clothes worn together
cartel · enterprise · conspiracy · criminal network · gang · underworld · gangland · mob
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- tax evasionIllegally avoiding government dues
securities fraud · insider trading · wire fraud · mail fraud · counterfeiting · shell companies · swindle · phishing
Forceful extraction of payment
- protectionGuarding against harm
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
squeeze · tribute · strong-arm · musclemen · enforcement · demand · hush money · arm-twisting
Prohibited wagering activity
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
- black marketIllicit trading system
prostitution ring · narcotics · bootlegging · loan sharking · front business
Illicit political gain
- payolaBribes for airplay
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- bid riggingConspiring to fix auction outcomes
- no-show jobsSalaried roles requiring nothing
patronage · nepotism · cronyism · malfeasance · venality · underhanded · public corruption · pay-to-play
RICO
Federal anti-organized-crime act
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
federal charges · forfeiture · asset seizure · plea deal · informant · wiretap · FBI · grand jury · criminal conspiracy · sentence
syndicate
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- crime familyCriminal organization by kinship
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- Cosa NostraSicilian criminal organization
outfit · cartel · enterprise · conspiracy · criminal network · gang · underworld · gangland · mob · ring
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
tax evasion · securities fraud · insider trading · wire fraud · mail fraud · counterfeiting · shell companies · swindle · phishing · identity theft
shakedown
Forceful extraction of payment
- protectionGuarding against harm
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
coercion · squeeze · tribute · strong-arm · musclemen · enforcement · demand · hush money · arm-twisting · duress
illegal gambling
Prohibited wagering activity
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
black market · prostitution ring · narcotics · bootlegging · loan sharking · front business
graft
Illicit political gain
- payolaBribes for airplay
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- bid riggingConspiring to fix auction outcomes
no-show jobs · patronage · nepotism · cronyism · malfeasance · venality · underhanded · public corruption · pay-to-play · influence peddling
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- criminal investigationsinvestigations, crime scene, crime scenes, crime scene investigation, crime scene analysis
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribes, bribe
- shady dealingsscams, swindles, cons, grifts, fraud
racketeeringethical business
Commerce following moral principles
fair dealing · integrity · honest work · philanthropy · charitable work
racketeeringphilanthropy
Generous giving for others
charity · public service · benevolence · community service · volunteerism
racket, bribery, blackmail, rackets, extortion, racketeer, racketed, racketeers, racketeered