racketeers
Organized crime operators
Racketeers are people who make money through illegal schemes, especially organized crime operations like extortion, fraud, or protection rackets.
The term evokes organized crime syndicates and their members: Federal prosecutors went after the racketeers running the gambling operation.
To racketeer is to engage in such criminal enterprise.
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
money laundering · bribery · smuggling · counterfeiting · bootlegging · forgery · theft · conspiracy
Disorderly, aggressive crowd
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- gangOrganized criminal group
outfit · crime family · ring · network · crew · organization · yakuza · triad
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- violenceHarmful physical force
- protectionGuarding against harm
bribery · corruption · shakedown · fear · menace · strong-arming · muscle · payoff
Criminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
capo · wiseguy · kingpin · boss · enforcer · hitman · soldier · associate
Commercial enterprises collectively
- unionsCombinations or confederations
- casinosWagering establishments
- docksShip mooring structures
- constructionProcess of building something
restaurants · nightclubs · trucking · garment industry · politicians · longshoremen · vendors · contractors
extortion
Obtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
embezzlement · money laundering · bribery · smuggling · counterfeiting · bootlegging · forgery · theft · conspiracy · loan sharking
mob
Disorderly, aggressive crowd
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
gang · outfit · crime family · ring · network · crew · organization · yakuza · triad · confederation
intimidation
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- violenceHarmful physical force
protection · bribery · corruption · shakedown · fear · menace · strong-arming · muscle · payoff · hush money
gangster
Criminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
consigliere · capo · wiseguy · kingpin · boss · enforcer · hitman · soldier · associate · made man
businesses
Commercial enterprises collectively
construction · restaurants · nightclubs · trucking · garment industry · politicians · longshoremen · vendors · contractors · shop owners
- predatorspredators, hunters, lions, falcon, fox
- tough guystough guys, tough guy, thug, thugs, enforcer
- black marketblack market, illegal trade, smugglers, contraband, traffickers
- criminal groupsgang, mafia, cartel, mob, syndicate
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, autocrats, authoritarians
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, toughs, brutes
racketeerspolice
Civil law enforcement
prosecutors · FBI agents · crime fighters · philanthropists · reformers
racketeersprotectors
Those who guard others
guardians · defenders · advocates · benefactors · community organizers