Interstate communications
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever transmits in any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other , transmits in any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c) Whoever transmits in any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other , transmits in any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 741 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 99–646, §63, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3614 (PDF, 5.1 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), (H), (K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to send a message across state lines or national borders (for example, by phone, email, or internet) that demands ransom for a kidnapped person or threatens to kidnap or injure someone. It is also a crime to send such a message threatening someone's property or reputation, or threatening to accuse them of a crime, in order to get money or something valuable.