Crimes of Extortion

Extortion includes a shakedown, extraction, bribery, blackmail, public corruption, or ransom demands. The crime sometimes requires proof that the victim was intimidated into providing money or other things of value because of a threat of possible violence, force, or harm.

Under Florida law, extortion involves the use of threats, coercion, or intimidation to obtain money or other things of value, such as goods or services. Within the definition, even a threat to a person’s mental well-being can constitute a threat of injury. The courts have held that the threatened injury does not necessarily have to be a threat of physical injury.

In recent years, the number of cyberextortion crimes has risen. In these cases, a person (who often has no prior relationship with the victim) steals a secret from the victim electronically or by hacking into their computer.

The person commits the crime by threatening to release the secret unless the victim pays money or takes other action. Other crimes related to cyber extortion include cyberharassment or cyberstalking.

Attorney for Extortion Crimes in Tampa, FL

If you are being investigated for extortion under state or federal law, contact a criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL.

Never speak to a law enforcement officer about being the target of a criminal investigation into extortion until you have spoken with an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

Many extortion claims occur in the workplace and are considered white collar crimes. Other extortion charges take place in a domestic relationship between former lovers and can be considered a crime of domestic or dating violence.

Whether your case is being investigated at the state or federal level, the attorneys at Sammis Law Firm are ready to help you fight the allegations. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

Call 813-250-0500.

Elements in Florida’s Extortion Statute – Section 836.05

Extortion crimes prosecuted under Florida law are classified as a second-degree felony under Florida Statute Section 836.05, punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison and a $10,000 fine. The crime of extortion has a Level 6 offense severity ranking under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code.

The offense of extortion includes four elements, except five elements, which are required when the threat is made to a third party. Those elements of extortion include the following:

• The defendant made a verbal, printed, or written communication to another person;
• In that communication, the defendant threatened to:
  • accuse another person of any offense or crime;
  • injure another person;
  • injure the property or reputation of another person;
  • expose another person to disgrace;
  • expose any secret affecting another person (often called “blackmail”); or
  • impute any deformity or lack of chastity to another person.

• The defendant’s threat was made maliciously;
• The defendant’s threat was made with the intent to:
  • extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever from another person;
  • compel another person to do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will.

If the threat was made to a third party, then the prosecutor with the State of Florida must also prove a fifth element:

• At the time Defendant made the threat, Defendant intended that the threat be communicated to the person who was extorted or compelled.

The standard jury instructions for extortion were adopted in 2014. The standard jury instructions for extortion provide that it is not necessary for the State of Florida to prove the actual intent to do harm nor the ability to carry out the threat. The statute prohibits both threats to cause mental or psychological damage. See Duan v. State, 970 So. 2d 903 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007).

The crime of extortion does not have any lesser-included offenses. Additionally, “attempted” extortion is not a crime. Achin v. State, 436 So. 2d 30 (Fla. 1982).

Proving the Extortion Threat Was Made Malicious

The courts have found that Florida’s Extortion Statute, Section 836.05, requires the State to prove that the defendant made a threat “intentionally and without a lawful justification” (sometimes called “legal malice”). Other courts found that “maliciously” in section 836.05, Florida Statutes, required proof that the defendant acted with ill will, hatred, spite, or an evil intent (sometimes called “actual malice”).

The word “maliciously” was not defined in section 836.05 or chapter 836. The standard jury noted that different courts had used different definitions of the word. See Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Crim.) 8.23.

The debate was settled by the Florida Supreme Court, which found that legal malice was required but not actual malice.

Additionally, Courts have found that the extortion statute prohibits only those utterances or communications that constitute malicious threats to do injury to another’s person, reputation, or property. Additionally, the threats must be made with the intent to extort money or the intent to compel another to act or refrain from acting against his will. See Id. (citing Carricarte v. State, 384 So.2d 1261 (Fla.1980)).

The statute of limitations for extortion crimes charged under Florida Statute Section 836.05, a second-degree felony, is three years.

Cyberextortion Crimes in Florida

While extortion involves obtaining something of value—usually money—through actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, when the crime occurs over the internet or through electronic communications, the crime is often called cyberextortion. During cyber extortion schemes, the threats are communicated digitally, through online messages or via text messages.

The term “cyber extortion” also refers to a particular type of extortion in which the perpetrator does not threaten actual physical violence. Instead, the perpetrator hacks, threatens to hack, or releases hacked secrets.

The most common example of cyber extortion involves threatening to engage in an activity that will take down or disrupt a corporation’s website or steal its data unless the corporation pays the attacker a ransom to stop the attack.

Another type of cyber extortion involves using malware to encrypt data on an organization’s computer system or network (often called “ransomware” or “cryptoviral extortion”). The perpetrator then threatens not to give the corporation the encryption key unless money or something else of value is paid.

Extortion under Federal Law

Extortion crimes under Federal Law are set out in Chapter 41 of the United States Code. Many extortion cases under Federal Law are prosecuted as part of a larger RICO case involving organized crime.

The crime is commonly linked with wire fraud or mail fraud claims. Extortion crimes can be prosecuted in Federal Court when the case involves an allegation that the defendant conveyed through interstate or foreign commerce a transmission or communication in furtherance of an extortion plot under 18 USC 875(b).

Other extortion charges under Federal Law include an allegation under 18 USC 872. Under this type of extortion charge, an employee or officer of the United States Government or one who poses as such can commit extortion and be sentenced to up to one year in prison. If the extortion involves an amount of more than $1,000, the sentence can be up to three years in prison.

Under 18 USC 873, the federal crime of blackmail can be alleged if one threatens to inform the authorities of a violation of the United States Code in exchange for receiving something of value (or as consideration for not informing the authorities of any violation of the United States Code).

Additional Resources

Hackers Latest Weapon – Cyber Extortion – Read a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal concerning how hackers are committing extortion crimes online against both individuals and corporations after stealing secrets or sensitive data and then threatening to release or publish the secret unless money is paid or other actions are taken. The article explains how hackers also use ransomware attacks to extort money from corporations.

Cyber Misbehavior from Extortion to Cyberstalking – The United States Attorneys’ Bulletin is published pursuant to 28 CFR § 0 22(b) on a bimonthly basis. In this bulletin, find information on sextortion, preventing online crimes against children, cyberbullying, swatting crimes, and cyberstalking.

Finding an Attorney for Extortion Crimes in Florida

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm are familiar with the defense of extortion laws under state and federal law. Call us to discuss your case and the best defense against these charges. Never speak with a state or federal law enforcement officer until after you have discussed the allegations with a criminal defense attorney.

Anything you say can be used against you to prove one or more elements of the offense. Your criminal defense attorney is often in the best position to tell your side of the story to law enforcement. We also represent clients charged with cyber extortion, cyberharassment, or cyberstalking.

Whether the case involves a demand for ransom, a shakedown, an extraction, bribery, or public corruption, our criminal defense attorneys have the experience to help you fight the charges aggressively.

Contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm today to schedule a consultation to discuss the facts of your case and the best possible defense.

Call 813-250-0500.

This article was last updated on Thursday, September 19, 2024.