Extortion is the threatening, coercive act of demanding payment, favorable government action from a public official, or another benefit from someone in return for not doing violent, physical harm or injury to the victim or his property, or revealing compromising or damaging information about the victim (whether it is true or false), or causing unfavorable government action against the victim or his interests. Extortion (sometimes referred to as the crime of coercion or blackmail) is a criminal offense in all states and under federal law.

Extortion can occur in person, by telephone, by U.S. mail, by e-mail, by text message, through social media, or by other means of communication.

The definition and penalties for the crime of extortion vary from state to state—in some states blackmail is part of the criminal offense of extortion, and in some states blackmail and extortion are separate criminal offenses.

The crime of extortion may be prosecuted as a felony in some states—with potential prison time—or as a misdemeanor eligible for probation. The crime of extortion is usually located in a state’s statutes. And extortion is also a crime under federal law. See 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876.

In North Carolina, extortion is defined under North Carolina General Statutes § 14-118.4 as the obtaining of property, money, or any other thing of value from another person with his consent induced by the wrongful use of force or threat. This includes threats of physical harm, destruction of property, or threats to accuse the victim of a crime. Extortion is considered a Class F felony in North Carolina, which can result in severe penalties including imprisonment. The specific circumstances of the extortion, such as the amount of money or value involved and the means of communication used, can influence the severity of the charges and penalties. Additionally, under federal law, as outlined in 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, extortion is also a criminal offense, which can be prosecuted when it involves federal officials, crosses state lines, or utilizes interstate communication systems.