Los Angeles > White Collar Crimes > Extortion

Los Angeles Extortion Lawyer

If you or a loved one were charged with extortion in Los Angeles, CA, don’t wait to take action. You might be facing jail time, financial penalties, and permanent damage to your reputation. An experienced Los Angeles extortion lawyer at The Rodriguez Law Group can help you fight these serious allegations.

Contact our law office to schedule a free consultation. We’ll get to work immediately to build an aggressive, strategic defense to protect your future.

How Can an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Help If I’ve Been Charged With Extortion in Los Angeles?

It’s understandable to feel shaken and overwhelmed if you’ve been accused of extortion. However, it’s also important to remember that an accusation doesn’t have to lead to a conviction. Prosecutors are required to prove very specific elements to convict on extortion charges. An experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can be key to protecting your future.

At The Rodriguez Law Group, we have over 20 years of experience navigating the criminal justice system. We know the prosecutors and the tactics they’ll use to gain a conviction. Our attorneys will use our practical experience and knowledge of the law to your advantage.

When you hire our lawyers, you’ll have a skilled advocate on your team to:

• Launch a detailed investigation to find any exculpatory evidence that might help your case
• Identify any constitutional violations committed by police and prosecutors
• Work to have illegally obtained evidence thrown out
• Help you understand your options and make smart decisions as your case progresses
• Negotiate with the prosecutors to get the charges reduced or dropped
• Fiercely advocate on your behalf at trial

At The Rodriguez Law Group, we believe every client deserves a smart, aggressive criminal defense. We’re proud to offer high-quality legal representation to each and every one of our clients. With a skilled attorney and former prosecutor by your side every step of the way, you’ll significantly increase the chances of a positive outcome.

Don’t be intimidated into accepting a plea deal. Get the experienced legal help you need today. All you have to do is call and arrange a free consultation to get started.

Overview of California Laws on Extortion

In general terms, extortion happens when a victim consents to do something because they’ve been threatened. Under California Penal Code Section 518, the prosecution can conviction on extortion charges if:

• The defendant threatened the victim in order to obtain property, money, or something of value from the victim
• The defendant used force or fear to get a public official to take some type of official action

There are four basic elements that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to convict. Those include:

• Some type of threat
• Intent to use that threat to force the victim into taking some type of action
• The victim consented to the demands because of the threat
• The victim actually complied with the defendant’s demands because of the threat

California law outlines specific threats that can be used to support an extortion conviction. Someone might commit extortion by threatening one of the following:

• To use force or hurt the victim, a family member or third party
• To expose some type of secret involving the victim or a family member
• To accuse the victim or a family member of committing a crime

Importantly, the defendant doesn’t actually have to hurt the victim to be convicted of extortion in California. All that matters is that the defendant threatened the victim with the intent to achieve the specific outcome. Keep in mind that attempted extortion is a crime in California, too. So, a scheme to extort doesn’t have to be successful for charges to follow.

What Are the Penalties For An Extortion Conviction in Los Angeles?

The crime of extortion is charged as a felony under California law. That means you could face:

• A prison sentence of up to four years
• A maximum $10,000 financial penalty

You’ll also wind up with a felony conviction on your permanent criminal record. If any form of interstate commerce was involved, you could also be charged with a federal crime.

Don’t be tempted to take extortion charges lightly because it’s considered a white-collar crime. Call an experienced criminal defense attorney at The Rodriguez Law Group to protect your legal rights today.

Legal Defense Strategies To Help You Beat Extortion Charges

Our white-collar crimes defense lawyers will build your defense strategy to fit the facts and circumstances of your case. We’ll work closely with you to understand your side of the story and present a strong, targeted defense on your behalf.

Elements of a successful defense strategy might include:

• Examining the alleged victim’s motive to make false allegations
• Lack of intent to threaten the alleged victim
• The person did not consent because of the threats
• The victim did not actually perform the action
• Evidence in your case was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights

The elements of extortion are very specific. The prosecution is required to prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt to convict. At the Rodriguez Law Group, we’ll do everything we can to make this difficult. That might mean working with experts, interviewing witnesses, obtaining missing evidence, and more.

To learn more about how we can help in your specific case, call our law firm to arrange a free consultation today.

Call an Experienced Los Angeles White Collar Crime Law Firm For a Free Consultation Today

It’s essential to speak with an experienced Los Angeles extortion lawyer right away if you’ve been charged with a crime. When our legal team gets involved early, we increase the chances of having your criminal charges dropped or reduced before trial.

To learn more about what The Rodriguez Law Group will do to protect your rights, call our office for a free consultation today.