The Hobbs Act — Extortion by Force, Violence, or Fear (revised 2016) is a federal law that makes it illegal for a person to obtain property from another person by force, violence, or fear. It was passed in 1946 to combat organized crime, and it is now used to prosecute any type of extortion or robbery. The act includes three types of extortion: (1) Obtaining property from another person under color of official right; (2) Obtaining property from another person through the wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear; and (3) Obtaining property from another person through wrongful use of the fear of economic harm (i.e. threats of economic harm). The Hobbs Act also provides for increased penalties for extortion and robbery that affects interstate commerce. Additionally, it makes it easier for the federal government to prosecute certain types of extortion and robbery cases. In essence, the Hobbs Act — Extortion by Force, Violence, or Fear (revised 2016) makes it a federal crime to obtain property from another person through force, violence, or fear. It is an important tool in the fight against organized crime and other forms of extortion.