Theft by Extortion
New Jersey Theft by Extortion Attorney
Theft by Extortion is a crime that is committed when someone threatens another individual and obtains money or property as a result of the threat. It is what people commonly refer to as blackmail, so long as it is committed for the purpose of obtaining money or property. Theft by Extortion is a crime that is committed by people from all walks of life. It is a crime that can be committed in the confines of a fancy office building, or on the streets of a big city. I am Anthony N. Palumbo, Theft by Extortion Defense Lawyer with over 35 years of experience working as a criminal and municipal court defense attorney in New Jersey. I am a former prosecutor and current public defender. If you’ve been charged with Theft by Extortion in New Jersey, contact me today at 908-272-9700 for a free initial consultation. My goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for you. I represent clients throughout New Jersey including Ocean County, Monmouth County, Union County, Middlesex County, Somerset County, Mercer County, and Essex County.
I also defend charges of:
- Unlawful taking
- Auto theft
- Identity theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Forgery
- Writing bad checks
- Trespassing
- Vandalism
- Shopping offenses
- Juvenile theft Offenses
Theft by Extortion Law in New Jersey
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5, a person is guilty of theft by extortion if he purposely and unlawfully obtains property of another by extortion. A person extorts if he purposely threatens to:
- Inflict bodily injury on or physically confine or restrain anyone or commit any other criminal offense;
- Accuse anyone of an offense or cause charges of an offense to be instituted against any person;
- Expose or publicize any secret or any asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute;
- Take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action;
- Bring about or continue a strike, boycott or other collective action, if the property is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group in whose interest the actor purports to act;
- Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another’s legal claim or defense; or
- Inflict any other harm which would not substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to materially harm another person.
Penalties if Convicted
Theft by Extortion is a 2nd Degree crime, and if convicted an individual will face 5 to 10 years in prison. There are a variety of defenses an experienced Theft by Extortion attorney may choose to utilize in your defense. For instance, you may be defended on grounds that your actions merely constituted aggressive behavior and did not meet the requisite level necessary to constitute extortion. Another possible defense would be for your Theft by Extortion Defense Lawyer to show that the property was obtained by honest means and claimed as restitution or some other compensation owed to the accused. The defenses that may be utilized on your behalf depend on the particular circumstances of your case. It is important for you to contact an experienced New Jersey Theft by Extortion Defense Lawyer when making decisions about your case.
With over 35 years of experience as a Theft by Extortion Defense Attorney, I have obtained thousands of favorable outcomes including downgrades or dismissal of charges. If you need an attorney who will aggressively fight for your rights, contact me today at 908-272-9700 . I will provide you with a free initial consultation and I will gladly answer any questions you may have about your case.
Anthony N. Palumbo criminal and municipal court defense attorney from The Law Offices of Anthony N. Palumbo defends individuals throughout New Jersey including, Union County, Middlesex County, Somerset County, Essex County and Monmouth County.