Florida criminal charge
Threats; extortion in Florida
Threats; extortion is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 836.05. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 836.05.
What is the penalty for threats; extortion in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 15 years (Threats; extortion — base offense — Maliciously threatening to accuse another of a crime, injure a person/property/reputation, expose disgrace or a secret, or impute deformity or lack of chastity, with intent to extort money or a pecuniary advantage, or to compel a person to act or refrain from acting against their will.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Threats; extortion — base offense — Maliciously threatening to accuse another of a crime, injure a person/property/reputation, expose disgrace or a secret, or impute deformity or lack of chastity, with intent to extort money or a pecuniary advantage, or to compel a person to act or refrain from acting against their will.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Threats; extortion — foreign agent enhancement — Committing a violation of subsection (1) while acting as a foreign agent with intent to benefit a foreign country of concern.; when specifically provided by statute, a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment (s. 775.082(3)(b)1.)) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Threats; extortion — foreign agent enhancement — Committing a violation of subsection (1) while acting as a foreign agent with intent to benefit a foreign country of concern.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is threats; extortion classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threats; extortion — base offense | Felony of the Second Degree | Maliciously threatening to accuse another of a crime, injure a person/property/reputation, expose disgrace or a secret, or impute deformity or lack of chastity, with intent to extort money or a pecuniary advantage, or to compel a person to act or refrain from acting against their will. | Fla. Stat. § 836.05(1) |
| Threats; extortion — foreign agent enhancement | Felony of the First Degree | Committing a violation of subsection (1) while acting as a foreign agent with intent to benefit a foreign country of concern. | Fla. Stat. § 836.05(2) |
Common questions about threats; extortion in Florida
Is threats; extortion a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: threats; extortion ranges from a Felony of the Second Degree to a Felony of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 836.05.
Threats; extortion — base offense: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 836.05(1)) · Threats; extortion — foreign agent enhancement: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 836.05(2))
What are the penalties for threats; extortion in Florida?
Penalties for threats; extortion in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Felony of the Second Degree up to a Felony of the First Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers threats; extortion?
Threats; extortion is governed by Fla. Stat. § 836.05 (Threats; extortion).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.