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What is the term for a person who conducts illegal business? Surely it is not illegal businessman, but maybe that could work.

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may be Don ?....... – Srini Apr 28 '11 at 6:35
"I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him, if he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room. And that, I do not forgive. But that aside, let me say that I swear on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made here today." - Don Corleone, The Godfather – Paul Amerigo Pajo Apr 28 '11 at 7:39
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There are very specific words, as many have mentioned, for specific crimes. Can you specify the illegal business? – Sam Apr 28 '11 at 13:16

4 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

It will be in any case a criminal, maybe a career criminal. When it goes to drug business, you call it a druglord, which in himself is a kind of kingpin. You can choose your poison.

But in the end, without contest, the word which would best fit your definition is a racketeer, although career criminal or illegal businessman are not bad themselves.

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Let's not forget loanshark, blackmailer, trafficker, gangster, pimp, conman, etc. – ogerard Apr 28 '11 at 8:30
grifter, smuggler, hitman, burglar, rapist, murderer, bookie,... – Sam Apr 28 '11 at 13:57
@Sam: the occupation of burglars, rapists and murderers doesn't strikes me as what we commonly call business – Eldroß Apr 28 '11 at 14:00
I agree that it would be uncommon, but not out of the question. A hitman, for instance is a professional murderer. I suppose the difference is the motive. If it's profit, wouldn't it qualify as business? – Sam Apr 28 '11 at 14:05
@Sam, you may have noticed that I didn't question the fact that the hitman was doing "business", I was only talking about burglars, rapists and murderers amongst the list of name you gave. – Eldroß Apr 28 '11 at 14:07
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up vote 4 down vote

I think crook suggests the idea of illegal business better than criminal; a criminal is anyone who commits/is convicted of committing a crime, which is too broad IMHO.

Depending on the illegal business in question, there may be more contextual suggestions...

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I still think that racketeer hits the mark better than crook when no context are given. For me, crook doesn't mean necessary illegal business. – Eldroß Apr 28 '11 at 14:00
up vote 1 down vote

A white-collar criminal

is someone who commits crimes involving business activities, mostly desk-work crimes like accounting or insurance fraud.

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up vote -1 down vote

maybe you can use the general sense (not just of liquor) of bootlegger see also the definition for bootleg

to produce, reproduce, or distribute illicitly or without authorization

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