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Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 836.05 — Threats; extortion

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 836: Defamation; Libel; Threatening Letters and Similar Offenses, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 836.05

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 836.05Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes
(1) Whoever, either verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of any crime or offense, or by such communication maliciously threatens an injury to the person, property or reputation of another, or maliciously threatens to expose another to disgrace, or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened, or any other person, to do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (2) A person who commits a violation of subsection (1) and at the time of the violation is acting as a foreign agent, as defined in s. 812.081(1), with the intent of benefiting a foreign country of concern, as defined in s. 692.201, commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

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))

Which Florida statute covers threats; extortion?

Threats; extortion is governed by Fla. Stat. § 836.05 (Threats; extortion).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.