![]() In the United States, the crime of extortion is usually statutorily defined. This was because both the crimes were considered to be done by public officers only. The unlawful exaction of money through intimidation was a complement of bribery in the early ages. When an officer falsely claims authority to take that which the officer is not lawfully entitled to, such act is known as acting under color of office. To constitute the offense of extortion, the public officer should use a threat under the guise of exercising public duties. Traditionally, the valuables or money are extracted by using force or threat. When a public officer takes money or other valuables from an individual that is not due to the officer, such act will not amount to robbery but extortion. In common law, extortion is committed by a public officer. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ) is the federal law which includes sanctions for the crime of extortion but goes much further than that aspect in seeking to protect interstate commerce, as discussed below. Another typical threat is that a member of the family will be assaulted unless money is paid. Usually, it is threat of violence or reporting a matter to a public agency or the media that can create allegations of extortion.Īs with many criminal offenses, the victim may have a private cause of action against the perpetrator.Ī typical extortion threat is that one will report an alleged crime to the police unless the person pays a sum of money. It is not all threats-for example, threatening to file suit unless someone pays you money owed is not extortion. ![]() Instead, far more subtle actions can lead to allegations that one has committed extortion.Įxtortion is a criminal offense that occurs when a person unlawfully obtains money, property, or services from another person or entity by means of particular types of threats. The image of the sleazy blackmailer demanding money or threatening to publicize an old scandal is seldom the act that leads to litigation involving extortion. Extortion is both a tort and a crime and is perhaps far more common than most of us think.
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