Extortion is proscribed in Florida Statute § 836.05, and is defined as written or verbal threat, made with the malicious intention to compel or coerce another person to commit any act or refrain from committing any act against his or her will.  Extortion can also be described more generally as gaining something by wrongful methods, obtaining something in a wrongful manner, or exacting wrongfully by threat or intimidation. 

An obvious example of extortion is a kidnapping scenario where the kidnappers demand a ransom in exchange for the safe return of the child.