What Is Extortion?

Extortion is the communication of threats to another with the intention to obtain anything of value or any acquittance, advantage, or immunity of any description. If convicted, you could suffer imprisonment for one to 15 years in addition to fines, victim restitution, and more.

The following threats constitute an extortion charge:

• A threat to do any unlawful injury to the person or property of the victim or any member of their family or other person held dear to them.
• A threat to accuse the victim or their family member(s) or other person held dear to them of any crime.
• A threat to expose or impute any deformity or disgrace to the victim or their family member(s) or other person held dear to them.
• A threat to expose any secret affecting the victim or their family member(s) or other person held dear to them.
• A threat to cause harm as retribution for participation in any legislative hearing or proceeding, administrative proceeding, or in any other legal action.
• A threat to do any other harm.

With these facts in mind, let's review some examples of extortion to give you a clearer idea of how this crime can be committed:

1. Threatening to post your ex's nude photographs online if they don't unblock your phone number
2. Hackers threatening to publicly expose a company employees' bank records and financial details if the company fails to pay a ransom
3. Threatening to burn your former employer's house down if they don't pay you $10,000
4. Telling your significant other that you will accuse them of rape after learning they cheated on you unless they pay for your new apartment so you can move out
5. Threatening to expose a celebrity's address and contact information unless they give you all their fine jewelry
6. Threatening to release sexually-explicit messages between an employee and CEO, both married, unless money is given
7. Discovering your spouse had an affair with three married people and demanding that each person pay you $5,000 each or else you will alert their families about their affairs
8. Sending emails claiming that victims' personal information will be released if they don't pay a ransom within one week

Our White Collar Crime Attorney Can Defend Your Freedom

If a victim reported your alleged offense to authorities, there is a high chance you are being investigated right now. As such, you must not make the mistake of assuming you will get away with your offense, as extortion is a crime that may get federal agencies such as the FBI involved. With this in mind, we encourage you to contact us at (225) 330-7009  to learn more about how we can defend your rights!

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