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 North Dakota, extortion is considered a serious criminal offense and is defined under North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 12.1-23-10. Extortion occurs when someone knowingly demands or receives any property or services from another with the threat to inflict future harm or accuse someone of a crime, expose a secret or deformity, or take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action. The act can be committed in various ways, including in person, via telephone, mail, email, text message, or through social media. Depending on the circumstances and the severity of the offense, extortion can be prosecuted as a felony, which may result in significant prison time, or as a misdemeanor, which might be eligible for probation. Additionally, extortion is also a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. §872 to 18 U.S.C. §876, which means that if the act involves federal jurisdiction, such as crossing state lines, it can be prosecuted by federal authorities with potentially even more severe penalties.