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 Vermont, extortion is considered a serious criminal offense and is defined under Vermont Statutes Annotated (V.S.A.) Title 13, which deals with crimes and criminal procedure. Extortion involves the act of obtaining money, property, or services from an individual through the use of force, threats of force, or the leverage of damaging information against the individual. The specific statutes may categorize the crime based on the severity of the threat and the amount of money or value of the property involved. Penalties for extortion in Vermont can range from fines to imprisonment, and the crime can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances. The exact statute and classification will determine the potential penalties, which could include significant prison time for felony charges. Additionally, under federal law, extortion is criminalized under 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, which can apply if the extortion involves interstate commerce or federal jurisdiction. The federal penalties for extortion can also be severe, including fines and imprisonment.