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 Michigan, extortion is defined as the act of maliciously threatening to accuse someone of a crime, to injure the person or property of another, or to expose any secret tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or to compel the person to do or refrain from doing any act against their will. This is outlined in the Michigan Penal Code, MCL 750.213. Extortion is considered a felony in Michigan, and those found guilty may face up to 20 years in prison. The state treats extortion as a serious crime, and it can be prosecuted regardless of the means of communication used to convey the threats, including in-person, by phone, mail, email, text, or social media. Additionally, under federal law, extortion is also a criminal offense, as stated in 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, which can lead to separate charges and penalties if the crime involves federal jurisdiction, such as crossing state lines or targeting federal officials.