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 Pennsylvania, extortion is considered a serious criminal offense and is defined under the state's criminal statutes. Extortion involves the act of illegally obtaining money, property, or services from a person through coercion, which may include threats of harm, damage to property, or exposure of damaging information. The specific statutes that address extortion in Pennsylvania are found in Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which deals with crimes and offenses. Depending on the severity of the act and the amount involved, extortion can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, with penalties ranging from fines and probation to significant prison time. Additionally, under federal law, extortion is criminalized under 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, which also covers threats against individuals, property, or reputation with the intent to extort. Federal penalties for extortion can include fines and imprisonment, and the specific charges may depend on factors such as the use of interstate communication or the targeting of a public official.