FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 20-year-old Broward County man accused of targeting Florida Sen. Lauren Book and threatening to leak partially nude photos to Fox News to end her political career pleaded no contest in court Wednesday.
Jeremy Kamperveen, of Plantation, was accused of extorting and cyberstalking the Florida Senate Democratic leader, threatening to release intimate personal photos and videos that had been hacked from her cell phone.
Book reported receiving alarming anonymous text messages on Nov. 12. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Kamperveen on Nov. 17 at a Starbucks in Sunrise where he thought he was going to meet Book to receive $4,000. Kamperveen thought he was texting Book, but was instead speaking with undercover Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents.
The FDLE said its investigation remains ongoing. Evidence shows text messages with an “S-Harris,” who sent Kamperveen the material. Kamperveen said he received it from someone Book knows and took it from there.
FDLE agents also assumed Kamperveen’s identity on social media.
In court Wednesday, Kamperveen apologized to Book and told the judge he made a mistake, asking for leniency.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” Kamperveen said. “I know I hurt you real bad and if I could take it back, I would do anything to take it back, but I know I can’t take back the pain that I inflicted on you.”
Book accepted his apology.
Kamperveen could face as little as probation or as much as 21 years in prison.