The Hobbs Act: A Guide to this Important Federal Law

The Hobbs Act is a federal law that makes it a crime to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery or extortion. The law was passed in 1934 in response to the growing problem of organized crime.

The Hobbs Act defines robbery as “the taking or attempted taking of property from another person or persons by force or violence, or by intimidation, or by putting the person in fear.” Extortion is defined as “the obtaining of property from another person by threatening to do him bodily harm, or by threatening to accuse him of a crime, or by threatening to expose him to disgrace, or by threatening to harm his reputation in any way.”

The Hobbs Act applies to any robbery or extortion that affects interstate commerce. This means that the crime can be committed anywhere in the United States, as long as it has some connection to interstate commerce. For example, a robbery of a truck carrying goods across state lines would be a Hobbs Act violation.

The Hobbs Act is a very serious crime. If convicted, a person can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The law also allows for the forfeiture of property that was obtained through robbery or extortion.

The Hobbs Act has been used to prosecute a wide range of crimes, including racketeering, labor racketeering, and drug trafficking. The law has been credited with helping to reduce organized crime in the United States.

Here are some additional details about the Hobbs Act:

• The Hobbs Act was passed in response to the growing problem of organized crime in the United States during the 1930s.
• The law was named after its sponsor, Senator Guy J. Hobbs of Oklahoma.
• The Hobbs Act makes it a crime to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery or extortion.
• Robbery is defined as “the taking or attempted taking of property from another person or persons by force or violence, or by intimidation, or by putting the person in fear.”
• Extortion is defined as “the obtaining of property from another person by threatening to do him bodily harm, or by threatening to accuse him of a crime, or by threatening to expose him to disgrace, or by threatening to harm his reputation in any way.”
• The Hobbs Act applies to any robbery or extortion that affects interstate commerce.
• The Hobbs Act is a very serious crime. If convicted, a person can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
• The law also allows for the forfeiture of property that was obtained through robbery or extortion.
• The Hobbs Act has been used to prosecute a wide range of crimes, including racketeering, labor racketeering, and drug trafficking.
• The law has been credited with helping to reduce organized crime in the United States.

If you have been charged with a federal offense, it is important to speak with an experienced Orange County federal crimes attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you understand the charges against you and your legal options.