Nigerian Extradited, Faces Life Sentence in US Over Nude Photo That Led to Teen's Death

27 January 2025

A Nigerian man has been extradited to the United States to face charges in connection with the sextortion of a teenage boy who subsequently committed suicide.

Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, 24, of Osun State, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of child exploitation resulting in death, distribution of child sexual abuse material, cyberstalking and other charges.

Gavin Guffey, 17, the son of a state lawmaker from Rock Hill, South Carolina, killed himself in July 2022 after being victimized by Lawal, the US Justice Department said in a statement.

"Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teen into sending compromising photos," it said. "He then extorted and sent harassing messages to the teen threatening to leak the photos and ruin his reputation unless the teen sent him money."

Lawal was indicted by a federal grand jury in South Carolina in October 2023 and flown to the United States on Friday, the Justice Department said.

"We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean," US Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs said. "Today we honor Gavin's life and continue our fight against sextortion by holding this defendant accountable."

The South Carolina legislature passed a bill following Guffey's death known as "Gavin's Law" that makes sexual extortion a felony offense and an aggravated felony if the victim is a minor or suffers bodily injury or death directly related to the crime.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.