South Carolina INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREATS OR VIOLENCE (HOBBS ACT) is a federal law that makes it a crime to use actual or threatened violence or fear of violence to interfere with interstate or foreign commerce. It applies to any person or enterprise that engages in extortion, robbery, or physical violence in the course of interstate commerce. This law is often used to prosecute racketeers and organized crime members who attempt to extort money from businesses in other states. It is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. There are two types of South Carolina INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREATS OR VIOLENCE (HOBBS ACT): (1) extortion, which is the use of actual or threatened violence or fear of violence to obtain something of value from another person or business; and (2) robbery, which is the taking of property of another by force or threat of force.