18 USC § 873 - Blackmail

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s873"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 873 - Blackmail"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "873"
section_name: "Blackmail"
chapter_number: 41
chapter_name: "EXTORTION AND THREATS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 740; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 873. Blackmail

Whoever, under a threat of informing, or as a consideration for not informing, against any violation of any law of the United States, demands or receives any money or other valuable thing, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 740; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based upon title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 250 (, ).

Only minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $2,000”.