Blackmail is the threatening, coercive act of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them—with the threat often being to reveal the information to the victim’s friends, family, or business associates. Blackmail (sometimes referred to as the crime of coercion or extortion) is a criminal offense in most states—whether the information is true or false.

The definition and penalties for the crime of blackmail 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 blackmail may be prosecuted as a felony in some states—with potential prison time—or as a misdemeanor eligible for probation. The criminal offense of blackmail, coercion, or extortion is usually located in a state’s penal or criminal code (statutes).

Blackmail is also a federal crime when the threat is to report or testify against someone regarding an alleged violation of federal law (tax evasion, for example), coupled with a demand for money or something else of value in return for the blackmailer not reporting or testifying regarding the alleged violation of federal law.

In Kentucky, blackmail is considered a form of extortion and is addressed under the state's criminal statutes. Kentucky law defines extortion as obtaining money or property by threatening to inflict harm upon another person, to accuse them of a crime, or to expose a secret affecting them or their family, which would tend to subject the person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule. The crime of extortion, which encompasses acts commonly referred to as blackmail, can be prosecuted as a felony, depending on the severity of the offense and the amount of money or value of the property involved. Penalties for extortion in Kentucky can include imprisonment, fines, or both. Additionally, if the act of blackmail involves crossing state lines or threatening to report a federal crime, it may also be subject to federal prosecution under federal extortion and blackmail statutes.