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Extortion is a federal crime that involves coercion for monetary gain. Penalties range from fines to prison sentences, depending on severity and involvement of interstate commerce. Evidence is necessary for prosecution, and penalties vary based on criminal history and severity. Seeking legal advice is recommended, and avoiding extortion is the best way to avoid prosecution.
Extortion is a federal crime that involves the use of coercion to obtain monetary gain in the form of money or property. Penalties for this crime can range from simple fines and community service to a lengthy prison sentence, depending on its severity and whether or not it involved interstate commerce. Interstate commerce refers to instances where one part of one state attempts to coerce one part of another state.
Typically, an individual can only be charged with extortion if there is written, digital, or verbal evidence, such as a handwritten letter, printed email, or recorded conversation, that demonstrates that the individual attempted to blackmail or coerce . Without such evidence, it is extremely difficult to prove. Prosecutors don’t care if the individual went through the threat and the threat itself is enough to warrant a judicial penalty.
Extortion is a federal crime in the United States, and penalties remain fairly consistent across all fifty states. The penalties are partly determined by the degree of the crime, which is considered a felony or misdemeanor. Factors that determine the degree to which an individual is charged include their criminal history and the severity of the charge.
If an individual with no criminal record were to engage in petty blackmail and coercion, they would likely only face a felony charge. This charge would result in a sentence of probation and restitution. The individual would be forced to repay the gains made by extortion threats.
Individuals with a long criminal record accused of a serious or even insignificant case of extortion will often automatically face felony charges. Such a serious charge usually carries a prison sentence of between 1 and 20 years. Prison sentences depend on where they occurred.
Because extortion can potentially cripple a person’s life and career, individuals accused of it should seek the advice of a well-trained lawyer. With the help of an experienced attorney, even an experienced criminal charged with a felony could be able to get probation. However, there is no guarantee of a lighter sentence with good advice.
The best way to avoid facing any sentence is to avoid extortion altogether. This involves not issuing threats, no matter how trivial the threats may seem. A prosecutor could interpret any benign threat or petty blackmail attempt as a serious extortion case worthy of a criminal prosecution.
