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 Oklahoma, blackmail is considered a criminal offense under state law. It is defined as the act of threatening to reveal damaging or compromising information about someone unless a demand, typically for money or another benefit, is met. This can include threats to disclose the information to friends, family, or business associates. Oklahoma law treats blackmail as a felony, which means that individuals convicted of this crime can face significant prison time. The specific statutes governing blackmail can be found in the Oklahoma penal code, where the definitions, penalties, and distinctions from related crimes such as extortion are outlined. Additionally, at the federal level, blackmail becomes a federal crime when it involves the threat to report someone for a violation of federal law, such as tax evasion, in exchange for money or something of value. The federal crime of blackmail is prosecuted under federal statutes, and it carries its own set of penalties separate from state law.