18 U.S.C. § 872 – Extortion by Officers or Employees of the United States
A statute focused on abuse of federal authority for personal gain.
What § 872 covers.
Section 872 makes it a federal crime for a United States officer or employee—or someone pretending to act in that capacity—to commit or attempt extortion while acting under color or pretense of official authority.
The statute targets situations where official power, real or claimed, becomes the leverage used to demand money or something of value.
“Under color of official right.”
This phrase refers to the misuse of apparent government authority. The government does not need to prove force or threats in the traditional sense—using one’s position, or pretending to hold such a position, can be enough.
Who can be charged.
- Federal officers or employees
- Individuals acting on behalf of a federal agency
- Individuals falsely representing themselves as federal officials
Penalties.
A violation of § 872 is punishable by:
- Up to 3 years in federal prison if the amount extorted exceeds $1,000
- Up to 1 year in prison if the amount demanded or obtained does not exceed $1,000
Fines may also be imposed in addition to imprisonment.
Why § 872 matters.
This statute often appears in public corruption investigations and can overlap with bribery and Hobbs Act charges. The line between unlawful extortion and other forms of official misconduct is frequently contested in these cases.
Allegations involving abuse of federal authority move quickly and tend to expand. If § 872 is in play, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our federal criminal defense attorneys to talk through the exposure and defense strategy.
