19-Year-Old Arrested for Allegedly Extorting, Cyberstalking Florida State Sen. Lauren Book

Photo: Broward County Sheriff’s Office

A Florida man is facing charges of cyberstalking and extortion after he allegedly threatened to release fake, sexually explicit photos of state Sen. Lauren Book to Fox News.

Florida Sen. Lauren Book.Wilfredo Lee/AP/Shutterstock

The FDLE impersonated Book online in order to apprehend Kamperveen, according to theHerald, and the 19-year-old was eventually arrested at a Starbucks in Sunrise, Florida, five days after Book alerted the FDLE of the messages Nov. 12.

Kamperveen is a member of Book’s district and is registered as a Democrat, according to theHerald. He does not have a previous criminal record.

Book released a statement Thursday about the investigation, saying, “Three weeks ago, I became the victim of ongoing sexual harassment and extortion,” per theHerald.

She continued, “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 a survivor of sexual abuse. She founded the groupLauren’s Kidsin 2007, which helps survivors of childhood sexual abuse and works to prevent abuse.

She added, “The investigation is active and ongoing to ensure that other individuals that could be behind these serious criminal acts that are targeting me are apprehended and brought to justice.”

source: people.com