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 Minnesota, blackmail is considered a form of extortion, which is a criminal offense under state law. Extortion occurs when someone unlawfully obtains money, property, or services from another by coercion or intimidation. This can include threats to expose secrets or damaging information unless the victim complies with the demand. Minnesota Statutes Section 609.27 defines and penalizes coercion, which encompasses acts commonly referred to as blackmail. Depending on the circumstances and the severity of the offense, the crime can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, with penalties ranging from fines and probation to imprisonment. Additionally, under federal law, blackmail becomes a federal crime when it involves a threat to report someone for a violation of federal law, such as tax evasion, in exchange for money or something of value. The federal statute that typically covers such offenses is 18 U.S.C. § 873, which prohibits 'Blackmail' as a distinct federal offense.