Austin Extortion Lawyers

It is a very common occurrence in gangster movies. A Mafia-type character walks into a bar or diner and scares the owner with his big gun, telling him that if he doesn’t pay for “protection,” he might find himself in a bit of trouble. This process is replicated several times over throughout the neighborhood and very soon, the Mafia boss is collecting income from the entire neighborhood for doing virtually nothing. Though familiar on the big screen, this occurs often in real life as well, all over the world. In the legal world, it is a crime called extortion.

Extortion is basically the gaining of property or money through any kind of force. This force is usually a form of intimidation, thus differentiating extortion from robbery, as the physical threat is not immediate. The forms of force used in extortion vary. It can range from violence, to property damage, reputation harm, blackmail, or unfavorable government action.

Extortion should not be tolerated anywhere. This form of maltreatment destroys alliances and creates a rift in the harmony of peaceful communities. While the authorities do what they can to try to stop willful acts of extortion, business owners must understand that they do not have to submit to these “collection agencies.”

However, in every case, there are two sides to the story. And sometimes, the circumstances cast a bad light over the situation. The legal system is designed to give every person his chance to prove his innocence before his countrymen. If you have been involved with an extortion case and you would like more information about your options, call the Austin extortion attorneys at office of Ian Inglis at 512-472-1950.