Current through codified legislation effective September 18, 2024
Section 22-3252 - Blackmail(a) A person commits the offense of blackmail when that person, with intent to obtain property of another or to cause another to do or refrain from doing any act, threatens to: (1) Accuse another person of a crime;(2) Expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject another person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, embarrassment, or other injury to reputation;(3) Impair the reputation of another person, including a deceased person;(4) Distribute a photograph, video, or audio recording, whether authentic or inauthentic, tending to subject another person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, embarrassment, or other injury to reputation; or(5) Notify a federal, state, or local government agency or official of, or publicize, another person's immigration or citizenship status.(b) Any person convicted of blackmail shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.Dec. 1, 1982, D.C. Law 4-164, § 152, 29 DCR 3976; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 205(u), 60 DCR 2064; Apr. 26, 2019, D.C. Law 22-308, § 2, 66 DCR 907.Applicability of D.C. Law 19-317: Section 401 of D.C. Law 19-317 provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.