R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-42-2 (2026)

Extortion and blackmail

✓ current as of July 2026
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Whoever, verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of a crime or offense or by a verbal or written communication maliciously threatens any injury to the person, reputation, property, or financial condition of another, or threatens to engage in other criminal conduct with intent to extort money or any unlawful pecuniary advantage, or with intent to compel any person to do any act against his or her will, or to prohibit any person from carrying out a duty imposed by law, shall be punished by imprisonment in the adult correctional institutions for not more than fifteen (15) years or by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or both.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases, 1971–2020 · leading case: State v. Grayhurst, 852 A.2d 491 (R.I. 2004).
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State v. Grayhurst, 852 A.2d 491 (R.I. 2004). · cites it 6× “Pursuant to G.L.1956 § 11-42-2, “this [C]ourt has consistently stated that the crime of extortion [and blackmail] consists of two basic elements: (1) an oral or a written threat to harm a person or property, (2) accompanied by the intent to compel someone to do something against…”
Menebhi v. Mattos, 183 F. Supp. 2d 490 (D.R.I. 2002). · cites it 7× “Higgins obtained witness statements from Merritt and Centracchio, *501 which corroborated Raimondo’s account of her encounter with plaintiff on August 3, 1999. There is nothing in the record, furthermore, to suggest that Det.”
Marcil v. Kells, 936 A.2d 208 (R.I. 2007). · cites it 2× “her of a crime or offense or by a verbal or written communication maliciously threatens any injury to the person, reputation, property, or financial condition of another, or threatens to engage in other criminal conduct with intent to extort money or any unlawful pecuniary…”
Mello v. DaLomba, 798 A.2d 405 (R.I. 2002). · cites it 3× “The plaintiff also alleges that this conduct constitutes extortion in violation of § 11-42-2. The extortion statute provides that: “[wjhoever, verbally * * * maliciously threatens any injury to the person, reputation, property, or financial condition of another, or threatens to…”
State v. Price, 706 A.2d 929 (R.I. 1998). · cites it 2× “General Laws 1956 § 11-42-2, “Extortion and blackmail,” provides: “Whoever, verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of a crime or offense or by a verbal or written communication maliciously threatens any injury to the person,…”
State v. Davis, 384 A.2d 1061 (R.I. 1978). · cites it 2× “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §11-42-2; more specifically, it charges that on that day, defendant maliciously threatened to break the jaw of one Monroe Allen and to throw him out of his office window unless he ceased complaining to the local police about sanitary conditions at…”
United States v. Malloy, 614 F.3d 852 (8th Cir. 2010). “tute which states, in pertinent part: Whoever, verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of a crime or offense or by a verbal or written communication maliciously threatens any injury to the person, reputation, property, or…”
Nat'l Credit Union Admin. Bd. v. Regine, 795 F. Supp. 59 (D.R.I. 1992). · cites it 2× “§ 11-42-2, and the state’s anti-racketeering law, R.”
State v. Pope, 414 A.2d 781 (R.I. 1980). “1956 (1969 Re-enactment) § 11-42-2. As we have defined in State v.”
State v. Feole, 748 A.2d 239 (R.I. 2000). · cites it 2× “The defendant, John Feole (Feole), appeals from a judgment of conviction for extortion in violation of G.L. 1956 § 11-42-2 and usury in violation of G.”
State v. Simmons, 327 A.2d 843 (R.I. 1974). · cites it 2× “The defendant moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that it did not charge an offense under §11-42-2, and alternatively on the ground that the crime charged was unconstitutionally vague because it failed to give him adequate notice that the conduct for which he had been…”
State v. Mancini, 274 A.2d 742 (R.I. 1971). “1956, §11-42-2 as follows: “Whoever, verbally or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of a crime or offense, or by a verbal or written or printed communication maliciously threatens any injury to the person or property of another, with…”
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