Federal agents have successfully extradited a suspect who is believed to have masterminded a sextortion scheme against Gavin Guffey, a teenager from South Carolina. Tragically, this scheme resulted in the young teen’s untimely death.
Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, a 24-year-old from Osun State, Nigeria, has been brought to the U.S. on January 24 following a successful collaboration between American and Nigerian authorities. On Monday morning, Lawal made an appearance in federal court in downtown Columbia. According to a five-count federal indictment, Lawal stands accused of various crimes, including child exploitation resulting in death, coercion of a minor, and cyberstalking, all in connection with the tragic death of Guffey.
“We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Today we honor Gavin’s life and continue our fight against sextortion by holding this defendant accountable.”
Lawal allegedly pretended to be a young woman on social media, manipulating Guffey, a 17-year-old from Rock Hill, into sending explicit images in July 2022. When Guffey refused to comply with the extortion demands, Lawal supposedly threatened to release the images online. Tragically, a few hours later, Guffey took his own life. According to the indictment, Lawal continued to target Guffey’s grieving family with similar threats.
Lawal could potentially receive a life sentence if found guilty. One of the charges he is facing carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for child exploitation, which resulted in the tragic death of Guffey. Additionally, he may be compelled to provide restitution to Guffey’s family.
The investigation was led by the FBI Columbia Field Office, with support from Nigerian law enforcement, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. State Department.
Background: Gavin’s Law and Efforts to Combat Sextortion
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Gavin’s Law, spearheaded by South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey, was enacted in 2023 to address the issue of sextortion following the tragic death of his son. This legislation made the act of sextorting a minor a felony in South Carolina, imposing severe penalties of up to 30 years of imprisonment for individuals found guilty of this offense.
Last year, Guffey took legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, by filing a comprehensive 93-page lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses Meta of neglecting Gavin Guffey’s well-being by not incorporating essential features like age verification and efficient parental controls. Furthermore, it contends that Meta’s applications are responsible for exacerbating mental health problems in children, including depression and anxiety.
In the same year, Meta and Instagram introduced Teen Accounts that come with enhanced security measures.
“It’s just the beginning of the next fight,” Brandon Guffey said Monday during the news conference announcing the arrest and extradition. “It’s time for. us to really send that message. We brought him here to hold him accountable for his crimes. And we will continue to fight to not only save kids like Gavin, but to save any additional kids that might feel the way that Gavin did before he took his life.”
Sextortion on the Rise
The FBI reports a concerning rise in sextortion cases, with a particular focus on minors aged 10 to 17. Victims, often gripped by shame and fear, frequently choose not to report these crimes, enabling the culprits, many of whom operate across borders, to evade punishment.
“Sextortion is a serious and growing threat,” said FBI Special Agent Phil Tejara. “Parents need to establish open communication with their children so they feel safe coming forward if something happens.”
If you or someone you care about is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, rest assured that help is easily accessible. You can reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or engage in an online chat with their trained professionals. Additionally, there are resources specifically tailored for individuals in North Carolina (available here) and South Carolina (available here).
