The Latin Kings reported having a beeper store, a dance hall and a pool hall, while the Latin Dragons ran a bakery, a beeper store and a fast-food restuarant.

The Gangster Disciples owned a long list of business enterprises, including clothing stores, grocery stores, jewelry stores, restaurants and an airbrush shop.

The Black Disciples owned businesses as well, according to the recent indictment.

Black Disciple higher-ups Varmah and Varney Voker allegedly used some of their drug profits to buy a nightclub in Atlanta. The Voker twins renamed it Club 2winz and made payments of $20,000 every three weeks in cash until they had paid about $180,000, according to the federal indictment.

Donnell Jehan, the gang's third in command, also played entrepreneur, forming D.B.T. Construction Inc. in 1999. The initials stood for Distinguished Black Tradesmen.

Likewise, Black Disciple leader Marvel Thompson, who held the title "king," was interested in the construction business, incorporating Royal Improvement Ltd. in 1993. (Royal Improvement and D.B.T. Construction were involuntarily dissolved by the state in 2002.)

Thompson also owned a rap record label and a recording studio known as M.O.B. Records Inc. The studio in Englewood produced a hit song, the "Cha Cha Slide," which was performed by Chicago deejay Mr. C.

Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th), who was questioned by investigators after a Chicago police envelope addressed to her was found in the home of a Black Disciple, said she thought she was dealing with legitimate businessmen.

"They talked like businessmen. They were dressed like businessmen. They had business to discuss," she told reporters.