Nigerian Man Extradited to U.S. for Sextortion Scheme That Led to Lawmaker’sTeen Son’s Suicide

A Nigerian man has been extradited to the United States to face prosecution for a sextortion scheme that led to the suicide of a South Carolina lawmaker’s 17-year-old son.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday, January 27, 2025, that 24-year-old Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal was indicted in connection with the death of Gavin Guffey, the son of Representative Brandon Guffey from Rock Hill, South Carolina. The teenager took his own life in July 2022 after being victimized by Lawal’s scheme.

According to the indictment, Lawal, a resident of Osun State, Nigeria, posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teenager into sending explicit images. He then allegedly used those images to extort and threaten the victim, demanding money while warning that the photos would be leaked if he did not comply. Lawal is also accused of targeting the victim’s family with similar threats.

The five-count federal indictment charges Lawal with child exploitation resulting in death, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, interstate threats with intent to extort, and aiding and abetting. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for the most serious charge and could be sentenced to life in prison. The court may also order Lawal to pay restitution to the victim’s family for their losses.

A federal grand jury in South Carolina returned the indictment in October 2023. On January 24, 2025, following extradition proceedings in Nigeria, FBI agents took Lawal into custody in Lagos with assistance from Nigerian law enforcement and executed his removal to the United States.

U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators accountable regardless of their location. “We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean. Today, we honor Gavin’s life and continue our fight against sextortion by bringing this defendant to justice,” she said.

Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office, called Lawal’s actions “reprehensible” and stressed the agency’s commitment to protecting children. “This indictment represents the culmination of countless hours of dedicated work by investigators both here and abroad. We remain steadfast in our mission to hold criminals accountable, no matter where they are,” he stated.

The successful extradition was the result of collaboration between multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. State Department, and Nigerian authorities. Law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office, played a critical role in identifying, investigating, and arresting Lawal.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Section, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the York County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors handling the case include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels, Lothrop Morris, and Michael Shedd.