Connect with us

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City FBI Warns of Sextortion Increase, Lawmakers Advance A Solution

Published

on

Oklahoma City FBI Warns of Sextortion Increase, Lawmakers Advance A Solution


Sextortion cases among young teens have increased by more than 50 percent in two years, according to the Oklahoma City Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Agents attribute a rise in cases to ever-expanding digital applications, which can reach children on a variety of devices at virtually any age.

“We’ve done our best to try to get the word out to educate the public, and most importantly educate the kids who are the victims in these cases of criminal violations,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray.

Of the thousands of cases investigated each year, the FBI said there are more teenage boy victims than any other demographic. More than 20 youth suicides have been connected to financial sextortion.

Advertisement

In cases of sextortion, criminals contact children through online platforms and solicit explicit photos. Often, those criminals pose as someone who they are not. Criminals will then demand money or additional photos, typically with a threat to post the photo elsewhere or share it with people who are family or friends.

“The offenders and the perpetrators in these cases are very innovative and very patient,” Gray said. “They’ll use different platforms, they’ll use all forms of social media, they’ll use gaming apps, they’ll come after the kids on phones, on iPads, on desktop computers.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat authored SB 1479, which harshens penalties for sextortion predators.

“Kids don’t know where to turn when they fall victim to sextortion,” Treat said.

Senate Bill 1479 passed the Senate unanimously in March and was passed out of a House committee on Thursday.

Advertisement

“Too often these go unpunished because, a lot of times, it’s people in New York or overseas that are perpetrating this,” Treat said. “They’re just trying to get money out of the deal.”

The FBI recommends parents have conversations with their children about the dangers of sextortion and the importance of not talking to strangers online. But, if parents learn their child became a victim, the FBI recommends not shaming or guilting them but instead supporting them through the trauma of being manipulated.

“The children are not the subject of the investigations, they are the victims,” Gray said. “We will not only help them with pursuing the investigation with rigor but also provide resources to them and their family with victim specialists.”

Anyone can report financial sextortion by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.





Source link

Advertisement

Oklahoma

Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran

Published

on

Oklahoma leaders react after U.S.  and Israel launch joint attack on Iran


State leaders are reacting after the United States launched an attack on Iran Saturday morning.

U.S. Senator James Lankford said he is praying for the safety of the American service members involved in the attack.

“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has long threatened the United States and our allies. Today’s military actions underscore the seriousness of that threat and the need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Lankford said. “I’m praying for the safety of every American service member involved in these operations and for their families at home. God bless our troops and God bless America.”

Lankford also said that any Americans in the Middle East should keep an eye out for advisories and guidance from the U.S. Department of State.

Advertisement

U.S. Representative Tom Cole released a statement following the attack:

It’s a time of reckoning for those who chant ‘Death to America.’ President Trump is right when he calls the effort to eradicate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and give its people the opportunity to seize their freedom ‘a noble mission.’ The evil Iranian regime has been the leading state sponsor of terror for decades. It has killed thousands of people within and beyond its borders, including hundreds of Americans. It must be defanged and dismantled.

The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively. He has warned Iran repeatedly that it must change its policies and its actions. He has negotiated with Iran in good faith and with great clarity. It was the Iranian regime that chose to ignore those warnings and make a mockery of those negotiations. In doing so, its tyrannical leaders made an enormous miscalculation.

Our Commander in Chief has made clear that his goal is not just to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is also to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country. Self-determination and freedom will be theirs to claim. I hope they will.

Like every American, my thoughts and prayers are with our brave and capable men and women in uniform who are carrying out this noble but hard and dangerous mission. I know that they will have the unwavering support of every American, and I am confident that they will acquit themselves with honor and distinction.

May God protect our troops and the innocent Iranian people – and once again – as He so often has, bless America.

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin said he is praying for the United States’ men and women in uniform in a post on Saturday.

“May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform—the greatest peacekeeping force in the history of the world. Americans are praying for your safety in this mission,” Mullin said.

U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said the Iranian regime is a threat to the U.S. and President Trump was left with no other choice than to take action.

As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime is an active threat to the United States, our allies, and stability across the Middle East.”

Iran’s refusal to accept a deal left President Trump with no choice other than to take decisive action to ensure the regime never possesses a nuclear weapon. There is no peace without strength, and the United States will not sit by while this regime pursues their nuclear ambitions, fuels their terrorist proxies, and brutalizes the Iranian people. I’m praying for our brave troops in the region. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a social media post that his prayers are with President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth as they work to achieve a safer world.

Advertisement

“God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military engaged in the Middle East this weekend. My prayers are with our military, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our Generals, as they use American force to achieve a safer world for the future of our children and grandchildren,” Drummond said.



Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes

Published

on

Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes


An investigative audit into the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority; it’s something the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is considering.

Fox 25 has been covering issues with the Oklahoma County Detention Center for years, from failed inspections to staffing issues and missed paychecks.

The issues had members of the Jail Trust recommending last June they undergo a performance review. Now, in a letter recently issued, county commissioners are asking State Auditor Cindy Byrd to look into the county Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust. But whether it’s tied to those ongoing issues remains unclear.

“I really wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin with that. I just wouldn’t even want to speculate, honestly,” said Commissioner Myles Davidson.

Advertisement

Commissioner Davidson told FOX 25 if the audit were to happen, it wouldn’t be cheap.

“To go into a budget that we’re extremely tight on, and start adding hundreds of thousands of dollars, and time, these audits don’t happen overnight. I don’t know that we would have an answer to any question we could possibly ask before the budgetary cycle is over,” said Davidson.

Davidson said that cycle ends June 1. Instead, he’s suggesting they look into existing audits to see if there’s any useful information there first.

“I would simply say that we need to look at the audits that have been submitted already to the state auditor that the jail trust has already paid for, and then if we have questions about those, we need to bring in that auditing agency and question them. We do have the authority to do that,” Davidsons said.

However, Davidson isn’t sure they have the authority to request this audit.

Advertisement

“When it comes to statute, we have to have it lined out, expressly in statute that we have this authority, and every county commissioner across the state has to abide by that,” he said.

Davidson said they’ll be meeting Monday to find out whether or not they do have the authority to request this audit. He told FOX 25 the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office reached out to folks with Cindy Byrd’s office and was told the audit would cost $100,000, adding that she’s so swamped that she can’t do it this calendar year.

FOX 25 also reached out to Jason Lowe’s office but they said they have no comment.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith

Published

on

Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith


OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.

The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.

The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending