This story discusses suicide. If you or somebody you realize is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A Nigerian man has been extradited to the U.S. after being indicted for allegedly working a sextortion contrivance that ended in a South Carolina baby’s death.
The U.S. Attorney’s Place of job for the District of South Carolina said in a press release that 24-Twelve months-damaged-down Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal of Osun Direct, Nigeria, has been indicted on costs of: puny one exploitation ensuing in death; the production and distribution of puny one sexual abuse cloth; coercion and enticement of a minor; cyberstalking ensuing in death; interstate threats with intent to extort; and aiding and abetting.
The costs stem from an investigation into the death of 17-Twelve months-damaged-down Gavin Guffey of Rock Hill, South Carolina, who died by suicide in July 2022 after falling victim to Lawal’s alleged contrivance.
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Brandon Guffey, dazzling, has been exposing the dangers of sextortion after his son, Gavin, 2nd from dazzling, died by suicide closing Twelve months. (Brandon Guffey)
Lawal, the attorney’s put of enterprise said, posed as a young lady on social media and convinced the teen to ship compromising photos. After the baby despatched the photos, Lawal is accused of sending harassing messages to him, threatening to leak the photos and ruin his recognition except the teen despatched him money.
Lawal is accused of later doing the equivalent to participants of Guffey’s family.
“We just isn’t going to allow predators who target our teenagers to camouflage in the support of a keyboard or across the ocean. This day we honor Gavin’s existence and continue our fight against sextortion by preserving this defendant accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “This investigation and extradition are the stop results of tremendous laws enforcement coordination each and each in the US and Nigeria.”
The boy’s father, South Carolina Republican articulate Secure. Brandon Guffey, told Fox Recordsdata Digital closing Twelve months that his son and the perpetrator started chatting on Instagram, the social media app owned by Fb’s mother or father company, Meta.
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The change of stories titillating sextortion pointers to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids more than doubled between 2019 and 2021. In 2022, seventy nine% of offenders had been hunting for money from victims. (Brandon Guffey)
That person convinced Gavin to activate “vanish mode” in their Instagram chat, which permits messages to disappear after they’re obtained.
“After which they shared photos,” Guffey told Fox Recordsdata Digital.
After exchanging photos, that person demanded money from Gavin. He spoke back that he handiest had $25 in his legend, which Guffey said used to be not dazzling, and despatched $25. The scammer demanded more.
“And he even said that I’m sitting in my room with a gun. If these photos creep out, I’m going to total it dazzling now,” the articulate lawmaker defined. “I plot not know if any of the photos had been shared.”
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Gavin Guffey, 17, died by suicide in 2022 after changing into the victim of a sextortion position on Instagram. (Brandon Guffey)
Gavin, who had correct graduated from excessive college that spring and had a fondness for art work and tune, shot himself that evening.
After his death, the scammer he met on Instagram tracked down Brandon Guffey and Gavin’s teenage cousin on Instagram and started tense money from them.
“This indictment represents the end outcome of endless hours of dedicated work executed by our investigators each and each here and in one other nation,” said Steve Jensen, special agent to blame of the FBI Columbia Self-discipline Place of job. “The defendant’s alleged actions are reprehensible ensuing in the tragic loss of a young man’s existence. We remain steadfast in our dedication to preserving criminals accountable, specifically those that target our teenagers and endanger their lives, no topic the place they’re.”
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If convicted, Lawal faces up to existence in detention center. The worth of puny one exploitation ensuing in death carries a main sentence of 30 years in detention center.
Lawal would possibly perchance per chance also face major restitution wherein the courtroom would possibly perchance per chance clarify him to pay for losses incurred by the family as a results of his alleged contrivance.
Fox Recordsdata Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this file.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox Recordsdata Digital.
Memoir pointers and ideas would possibly perchance even be despatched to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
