Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

Extortion

I have documentation of an affair that is going on. I am not involved in the affair but I know the parties involved. If I send an email to the male who is involved asking him for $10,000 in order for me not to mail the documentation to his wife...is that considered extortion?

Can I get into trouble for this?


Asked on 2/25/05, 4:45 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Fred Kaufman Fredrick S. Kaufman, Esquire

Re: Extortion

In Virginia, extortion has been defined as follows:

"To gain by wrongful methods; to obtain in an

unlawful manner, as to compel payments by

means of threats of injury to person,

property, or reputation. To exact something

wrongfully by threats or putting in fear."

Stein v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 65, 69, 402 S.E.2d 238, 241 (1991) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 525 (6th ed. 1990)). As

the above definition demonstrates, the gravamen of extortion is wrongfully obtaining a benefit through coercion.

The answer is YES. THATS'S EXTORTION.

DON'T DO IT.

Good luck.

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Answered on 2/26/05, 2:01 pm
Shane Jimison Jimison/Homiller, PLC

Re: Extortion

God yes its extortion.

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Answered on 2/26/05, 3:08 pm


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