Florida teen accused of extorting politician with sexually explicit photos

A teenager has been arrested after he allegedly tried to get $5,000 from a state senator after threatening to release what he said were sexually explicit photos of her.

Jeremy Kamperveen, 19, was arrested last month and charged with extortion and cyberstalking, according to an arrest report obtained by Click Orlando.

The arrest report did not name the victim, but Florida Sen. Lauren Book released a statement this week saying the threatening messages had been sent to her, according to Click Orlando.

“Three weeks ago, I became the victim of ongoing sexual harassment and extortion," Book said, according to Click Orlando. “I immediately notified law enforcement and began working closely with them to track those responsible for sending threatening and disturbing images and messages to my phone, including distorted, fake and stolen images created in an effort to intimidate, threaten, and extort me.”

Book is the chair of the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus and a longtime advocate for victims of child abuse and sexual abuse, Click Orlando reported. She leads a group called Lauren’s Kids.

According to the arrest report obtained by Click Orlando, Book contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Nov. 12 after someone sent her several explicit photos and threatened to ruin her political career by releasing them to the public.

An undercover agent took over communication with the unidentified person and eventually negotiated to pay the person $4,000 in cash in exchange for watching the person delete the photos, according to Click Orlando.

A meeting was set for Nov. 17 at a Starbucks, where agents arrested Kamperveen, Click Orlando reported.

Kamperveen confessed to sending the messages and photos to Book, according to Click Orlando.

During a search of Kamperveen’s phone, agents reported finding the messages, as well as a folder containing photos and videos of Book, Click Orlando reported. The arrest warrant didn’t say how Kamperveen had allegedly obtained the photos.