This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know have suicide thoughts, contact the Lifeline Suicide & Crisis on 988 or 1-800-273 talk (8255).
A Nigerian man has been extradited to the US after he has been sued for alleged exploitation of a sextortion scheme that led to one South Carolina The death of teenagers.
The American law firm Because the South Carolina district said in a press release that the 24-year-old Hassanbunhussein Lawal of the state of Osun, Nigeria, has been sued for accusations of: children’s exploitation resulting in death; the production and distribution of sexual abuse of children; coercion and seduction of a minor; Cyberstalking resulting in death; Interstate threats with the intention of squeezing; And help and amazing.
The charges stem from an investigation into the death of 17-year-old Gavin Guffey of Rock Hill, South Carolina, who died by suicide in July 2022 after being victims of the alleged schedule of Lawal.
Brandon Guffey, on the right, has uncovered the dangers of Sextortion after his son, Gavin, second from the right, died last year by suicide. (Brandon Guffey)
Lawal, said the lawyer’s office, posed like a young woman on social media and convinced the teenager to send compromising photos. After the teenager has sent the photos, Lawal is accused of sending intimidating messages to him, the photos threatens to leak and ruin his reputation unless the teenager sent him money.
Lawal is accused of having done the same for members of Guffey’s family.
“We will not allow predators who aim our children to hide behind a keyboard or over the ocean. Today the life of Gavin honor and we will continue with our fight against Sextalce by keeping this suspect responsible”, “,”, Said the American lawyer Adair Ford Boroughs for the South Carolina district. “This research and extradition are the result of enormous coordination of law enforcement, both in the United States And Nigeria. “
The father of the boy, South Carolina Republican state representative Brandon Guffey, told Fox News Digital last year that his son and the perpetrator started chatting on Instagram, the Social media app Owned by the parent company of Facebook, Meta.
The number of reports with sextortion tips to the National Center for Missing and exploited Children more than doubled between 2019 and 2021. In 2022, 79% of the perpetrators sought money from victims. (Brandon Guffey)
Gavin convinced that person to call in the “Vanish mode” in their Instagram chat, so that messages can disappear after they have been received.
“And then they shared photos,” Guffey told Fox News Digital.
After exchanging photos, that person demanded money from Gavin. He replied that he only had $ 25 on his account, of which Guffey said it wasn’t true and sent $ 25. The scammer demanded more.
“And he even said that I am sitting in my room with a gun. When these photos go out, I will now end it,” the state legislator explained. “I don’t know if one of the photos has been shared.”
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Gavin Guffey, 17, died by suicide in 2022 after he had fallen victim to a sextortion plot on Instagram. (Brandon Guffey)
Gavin, who had just graduated from high school and had a passion for art and music, shot himself that evening.
After his death, the scammer he met on Instagram, Brandon Guffey and Gavin’s Teenage Cousin followed on Instagram and began to demand money from them.
“This indictment represents the highlight of countless hours dedicated work of our researchers, both here and abroad,” said Steve Jensen, special agent responsible for the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The alleged actions of the suspect are reprehensible, resulting in the tragic loss of a young man’s life. We remain steadfast in our dedication to keep criminals responsible, especially those who focus on our children and endanger their lives , regardless of where they are. “
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If convicted, Lawal is confronted with life in prison. The load of Child exploitation As a result in death, a mandatory penalty of 30 years in prison is sentenced.
Lawal can also be confronted with compulsory refund where the court can pay him to pay losses by the family as a result of his alleged scheme.
Audrey Conklin from FOX News Digital has contributed to this report.
