Most people automatically think of violence when they think of crimes. However, extortion and robbery are among the many white-collar crimes that occur in Oklahoma. If you find yourself arrested for one of these crimes, it can be terrifying.
What is extortion?
Extortion is classified as a white-collar crime when it occurs under certain circumstances, such as in a professional or business setting. It involves a person forcing someone else to do something by threatening to hold their property for their own purposes. Usually, blackmail is involved and the perpetrator will force the victim to pay money to get their property back.
One of the most common current examples of this type of crime is ransomware, which is more of a cybercrime. However, it’s similar in that a criminal gains access to a person’s computer files and forces them to pay a ransom in order to get back that access.
What is robbery?
Robbery is very common and is different from extortion in spite of someone’s property being taken. However, unlike white-collar crimes, it involves a threat to makes the person believe their personal safety is in imminent danger. A person who commits robbery might pretend they have a weapon to get the property they want to take. For example, if someone charges another person and demands they hand over their smartphone while pointing their finger in their pocket at them like it’s a gun, the victim might be afraid and relinquish the phone.
If you have been arrested for extortion or robbery, you need to take action. Don’t take chances with your future. If you know you are innocent of the offense, you will get the opportunity to prove that in court.
