Abduction to Extort Money or For Pecuniary Gain (Post 1 of 5)

September 27, 2016 by Jean Humbrecht

Virginia abduction to extort moneyAbduction in Virginia with the intent to extort money or for immoral purposes is considered aggravated abduction and significantly increases the penalties for an abduction conviction.  Aggravated abduction in Virginia is charged under Va. Code §18.2-48 and is committed when an offender abducts a person with the intent to extort money, abducts with intent to defile, abducts a minor for concubinage or prostitution or any person for the purposes of prostitution, or abducts a minor to manufacture child pornography.

This is the 1st post in a 5 part series discussing how an offender can be convicted of aggravated abduction in Virginia.  This post focuses on abduction with intent to extort money or for pecuniary benefit, Va. Code §18.2-48(i).

For more information on abduction with intent to defile, see post 2 in this series.  See post 3 for more information on abduction of a child for concubinage or prostitution.   See post 4 for more information on abduction for purposes of prostitution.  For more information on abduction of a minor to manufacture child pornography, see post 5  in this series.

Virginia Abduction to Extort Money Charge

A Virginia abduction to extort money charge under Va. Code §18.2-48(i) is committed when an offender abducts a person with the intent to extort money or for some other pecuniary benefit.  The Commonwealth must prove both that the offender abducted the victim and did so with the intent to extort money or obtain some sort of pecuniary gain to convict an offender of abduction under §18.2-48(i).

An offender commits a Virginia abduction to extort money offense under Va. Code §18.2-48(i) by:

  • using force, intimidation or deception to
  • seize, take, transport, detain or secrete
  • another person
  • with intent to deprive that person of personal liberty or withhold that person from lawful custody
  • without legal justification or excuse
  • to extort money or obtain other pecuniary benefit.
Penalty for Virginia Abduction to Extort Money  Charge

Aggravated abduction in Virginia under Va. Code §18.2-48 is a Class 2 felony.  Therefore, a conviction for abduction to extort money in Virginia is punished with 20 years up to life in prison and a fine up to $100,000.

Aggravated Abduction in  Virginia Statute

§18.2-48. Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose.

Abduction (i) of any person with the intent to extort money or pecuniary benefit, (ii) of any person with intent to defile such person, (iii) of any child under sixteen years of age for the purpose of concubinage or prostitution, (iv) of any person for the purpose of prostitution, or (v) of any minor for the purpose of manufacturing child pornography shall be punishable as a Class 2 felony. If the sentence imposed for a violation of (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) includes a term of confinement less than life imprisonment, the judge shall impose, in addition to any active sentence, a suspended sentence of no less than 40 years. This suspended sentence shall be suspended for the remainder of the defendant’s life subject to revocation by the court.
***DISCLAIMER: THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST, ON ANY PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE, AND ON ANY PAGES LINKED FROM THESE PAGES, ARE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LICENSED ATTORNEY IN YOUR JURISDICTION BEFORE RELYING ON ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THESE PAGES. SENDING EMAIL TO OR VIEWING INFORMATION FROM THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP***