US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 875

Interstate communications

(a)
Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title 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 thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c)
Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title 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 thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce 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 fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

June 25, 1948, ch. 64562 Stat. 741Pub. L. 99–646, § 63100 Stat. 3614Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G)108 Stat. 2147(, ; , , ; , (H), (K), , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

May 18, 1934, ch. 30048 Stat. 781May 15, 1939, ch. 133, § 253 Stat. 743Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 408d (, ; , ).

Provisions as to district of trial were omitted as covered by sections 3237 and 3239 of this title.

section 10 of this titleDefinition of “interstate commerce” was omitted in conformity with definitive .

Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K)1994—Subsecs. (a), (b). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H)Subsec. (c). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(G)Subsec. (d). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.

Pub. L. 99–6461986— inserted “or foreign” after “interstate” wherever appearing.