Source: http://www.ussc.gov/guidelines-manual/2006/2006-2b32
Timestamp: 2016-05-04 00:01:56
Document Index: 126715789

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2', '§2', '§2', '§ 875', '§ 1030', '§2', '§ 1951', '§ 875', '§ 875', '§ 876', '§ 877', '§ 1030']

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2006 Federal Sentencing GuidelinesCHAPTER TWO - PART B - BASIC ECONOMIC OFFENSES3. ROBBERY, EXTORTION, AND BLACKMAIL§2B3.2. Extortion by Force or Threat of Injury or Serious Damage(a) Base Offense Level: 18(b) Specific Offense Characteristics
(1) If the offense involved an express or implied threat of death, bodily injury, or kidnapping, increase by
(2) If the greater of the amount demanded or the loss to the victim exceeded $10,000, increase by the
corresponding number of levels from the table in §2B3.1(b)(7).
(3) (A)(i) If a firearm was discharged, increase by 7 levels; (ii) if a firearm was otherwise used, increase by
6 levels; (iii) if a firearm was brandished or possessed, increase by 5 levels; (iv) if a dangerous weapon was
otherwise used, increase by 4 levels; or (v) if a dangerous weapon was brandished or possessed, increase by
3 levels; or
(B) If (i) the offense involved preparation to carry out a threat of (I) death; (II) serious bodily injury; (III)
kidnapping; (IV) product tampering; or (V) damage to a computer system used to maintain or operate a
critical infrastructure, or by or for a government entity in furtherance of the administration of justice, national
defense, or national security; or (ii) the participant(s) otherwise demonstrated the ability to carry out a threat
described in any of subdivisions (i)(I) through (i)(V), increase by 3 levels.
(5) (A) If any person was abducted to facilitate commission of the offense or to facilitate escape, increase
(2) If the offense was tantamount to attempted murder, apply §2A2.1 (Assault with Intent to Commit Murder;
Attempted Murder) if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.
CommentaryStatutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 875(b), 876, 877, 1030(a)(7), 1951. For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).Application Notes:
"Abducted," "bodily injury," "brandished," "dangerous weapon," "firearm," "otherwise used," "permanent
or life-threatening bodily injury," "physically restrained," and "serious bodily injury" have the meaning given
operations that provide essential services to the public. "Government entity" has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1030(e)(9).
2. This guideline applies if there was any threat, express or implied, that reasonably could be interpreted as
one to injure a person or physically damage property, or any comparably serious threat, such as to drive an
enterprise out of business. Even if the threat does not in itself imply violence, the possibility of violence or
serious adverse consequences may be inferred from the circumstances of the threat or the reputation of the
person making it. An ambiguous threat, such as "pay up or else," or a threat to cause labor problems, ordinarily should be treated
3. Guidelines for bribery involving public officials are found in Part C, Offenses Involving Public Officials. "Extortion under color of official right," which usually is solicitation of a bribe by a public official, is
covered under §2C1.1 unless there is use of force or a threat that qualifies for treatment under this section. Certain other extortion offenses are covered under the provisions of Part E, Offenses Involving Criminal
Enterprises and Racketeering.
5. "Loss to the victim," as used in subsection (b)(2), means any demand paid plus any additional
consequential loss from the offense (e.g., the cost of defensive measures taken in direct response to the
6. In certain cases, an extortionate demand may be accompanied by conduct that does not qualify as a display
of a dangerous weapon under subsection (b)(3)(A)(v) but is nonetheless similar in seriousness, demonstrating
the defendant’s preparation or ability to carry out the threatened harm (e.g., an extortionate demand
containing a threat to tamper with a consumer product accompanied by a workable plan showing how the
product’s tamper-resistant seals could be defeated, or a threat to kidnap a person accompanied by information
showing study of that person’s daily routine). Subsection (b)(3)(B) addresses such cases.
7. If the offense involved the threat of death or serious bodily injury to numerous victims (e.g., in the case
of a plan to derail a passenger train or poison consumer products), an upward departure may be warranted.
8. If the offense involved organized criminal activity, or a threat to a family member of the victim, an upward
Background: The Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951, prohibits extortion, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to
extort. It provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years. 18 U.S.C. §§ 875-877 prohibit
communication of extortionate demands through various means. The maximum penalty under these statutes
varies from two to twenty years. Violations of 18 U.S.C. § 875 involve threats or demands transmitted by
interstate commerce. Violations of 18 U.S.C. § 876 involve the use of the United States mails to
communicate threats, while violations of 18 U.S.C. § 877 involve mailing threatening communications from foreign countries. This guideline also applies to offenses under
18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(7) involving a threat to impair the operation of a "protected computer."Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C,
amendments 112, 113, and 303); November 1, 1990 (see Appendix C, amendment 316); November 1, 1991
(see Appendix C, amendment 366); November 1, 1993 (see Appendix C, amendment 479); November 1,
1997 (see Appendix C, amendment 551); November 1, 1998 (see Appendix C, amendment 586); November
1, 2000 (see Appendix C, amendment 601); November 1, 2003 (see Appendix C, amendment 654). NewsPress Releases and News Advisories