The Hobbs Act — "Unlawful Taking by Force, Violence or Fear" Defined is a federal law which prohibits any person from obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion, or by attempting or conspiring to do so. It applies to any actual or threatened physical violence, fraud, or threats of force, violence, or fear, to obtain the property or consent of another person. The Hobbs Act does not apply to acts of mere economic coercion, such as boycotts or labor disputes. The Hobbs Act is broken down into two categories: 1. Robbery: Robbery is defined as the taking of property from another person by means of force or fear. The fear must be of immediate and physical harm to the victim or another person, which includes threats of future harm. 2. Extortion: Extortion is defined as the obtaining of property from another person through the use of force, violence or fear. The fear must be of immediate physical harm to the victim or another person, which includes threats of future harm. The Hobbs Act is a federal law which carries severe penalties, including incarceration and fines. It is important to note that the Hobbs Act applies to both public and private sector employees.