A 24-year-old Nigerian man, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, has been extradited from Nigeria to the United States to face prosecution in connection with the sextortion of a South Carolina teenager that led to his tragic death.
Lawal, originally from Osun State, allegedly posed as a young woman on social media to trick 17-year-old Gavin Guffey into sending compromising images.
He then used the photos to extort money from Guffey, threatening to release them publicly unless the teen complied. Unable to endure the harassment, Guffey died by suicide in July 2022.
A federal grand jury in South Carolina indicted Lawal in late 2023 on several charges, including child exploitation leading to death, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking, and interstate threats.
The indictment claims that Lawal also harassed Guffey’s family members as part of his extortion scheme.
The extradition was completed on January 24, 2024, with the assistance of Nigerian law enforcement. The FBI took custody of Lawal after he was brought from Lagos to the United States.
U.S. authorities, including U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs and FBI officials, expressed determination to hold Lawal accountable for his actions, noting the collaborative effort between the U.S. and Nigerian authorities that made this extradition possible.
If convicted, Lawal faces severe penalties, including a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison for child exploitation resulting in death, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
He may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s family. Lawal’s case is part of a larger national initiative, Project Safe Childhood, which focuses on protecting children from online exploitation.
Lawal’s prosecution highlights the ongoing efforts to combat online exploitation, especially when it leads to tragic outcomes such as the death of a young person.
Authorities urge anyone affected by similar crimes to report them to law enforcement, as resources for victims are available.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels, Lothrop Morris, and Michael Shedd, with continued investigations from various law enforcement agencies involved in Project Safe Childhood.
