Top Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyers explain the Hobbs Act. The Hobbs Act is named after former U.S. House of Representatives member Sam Hobbs. It was enacted more than seventy-five years ago. Broadly speaking, the Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion that affect interstate or foreign, as well as a conspiracy to do so.
The text of the Hobbs Act is found at 18 United States Code, section 1851, and forbids the following conduct: “Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”
The maximum possible term of incarceration with the federal Bureau of Prisons is 20 years.
Hobbs Act cases frequently involve complex legal and factual issues. Leonard Trial Lawyers is experienced and well-versed in defending against Hobbs Act prosecutions.
Matthew Chivari
Leonard Trial Lawyers
December 4, 2023