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NYC Grand Larceny by Extortion or Blackmail Lawyers
When an individual takes something that belongs to another person, that is considered larceny. Larceny can occur by the use of blackmail or other means of extortion. In fact, if such methods are used, New York state considers a defendant to have committed grand larceny, which is a felony. Those who are convicted of grand larceny can spend many years in jail.
How Does the Law Define Extortion or Blackmail?
If a person tries to take money or property through the threat of force to a victim or his or her family, that will be considered extortion. Extortion could also occur if action is taken to damage property or reveal secrets about another party. Furthermore, blackmail could occur if one party makes a decision to testify in a trial in an effort to gain leverage over another party.
No Monetary Threshold Must Be Passed
In most larceny cases, a person is charged with a misdemeanor if he or she takes money or property worth less than $1,000. However, in a case where extortion or blackmail is used, there is no such threshold that must be crossed to increase the charge to a felony.
You Don’t Actually Have to Threaten the Victim Directly
It is important to note that you don’t have to threaten the victim directly to be charged with grand larceny by extortion or blackmail. The only thing that matters in such a case is that you acquired money or property because you issued a threat.
What Is Considered Property Under the Law?
Property can be anything of value that was taken under the threat of extortion or blackmail. For example, you could take data from a corporate network, someone’s vacation home or evidence of a debt owed to another party. Other examples of property include a vehicle, art collection or anything else that has real or sentimental value.
How Much Jail Time Could a Person Face?
The amount of jail time an individual faces depends on the charge that he or she faces. For instance, a typical grand larceny with extortion charge will be considered to be a fourth-degree felony, which carries at least one year in jail. In some cases, a conviction could carry multiple years in jail. If the crime involved a public official, the charge is a second-degree felony, which comes with a jail sentence of up to 15 years.
What Are Some Other Consequences of a criminal Conviction?
If you are convicted of a crime, you will likely have a criminal record that can make it harder to find a job or get into an educational program. If you have a child, you could lose custody of that child or otherwise have fewer parental rights after getting out of jail or otherwise completing a sentence.
Those who are facing a charge of grand larceny because of extortion or blackmail should contact an attorney immediately. You can start your search by going to criminallawyersnyc.com at your earliest convenience. From there, you can request more information about how an attorney can help or schedule a consultation.