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 Kentucky, extortion is considered a serious criminal offense and is defined under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 514.080 as 'Theft by Extortion.' It occurs when someone intentionally obtains property from another by threatening to: inflict bodily injury, accuse someone of a crime, expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact to subject a person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action. The crime of extortion can be committed through various means of communication, including in-person, by phone, mail, email, text, or social media. Depending on the circumstances and the value of the property involved, extortion can be prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor in Kentucky. Felony charges can lead to significant prison time, while misdemeanors may be eligible for probation. Additionally, extortion is also a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, which can result in federal charges if the offense involves interstate commerce or federal officials.