Nigerian Man Extradited to U.S. for Sextortion Leading to South Carolina Teen's Death

Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, 24, faces life in prison for allegedly coercing Gavin Guffey, 17, into a sextortion scheme that resulted in his suicide in 2022.

Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, a 24-year-old from Nigeria, was extradited to the U.S. to face charges related to a sextortion scheme targeting South Carolina teen Gavin Guffey.
Prosecutors allege Lawal posed as a young woman online, coerced Guffey into sending explicit photos, and threatened to release them unless he paid money.
Guffey, the son of South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, died by suicide in July 2022 after being harassed and extorted by Lawal.
Lawal faces charges including child exploitation resulting in death, child pornography distribution, cyberstalking, and interstate threats, with potential life imprisonment if convicted.
The case prompted the passage of 'Gavin's Law' in South Carolina, making sextortion a felony and an aggravated felony in cases involving minors or resulting in injury or death.

U.S. Department of Justice