Nigerian extradited to US to face charges over nude photo that led to teen's death
Nigerian extradited to US to face charges over nude photo that led to teen's death
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A Nigerian man has been extradited to the U.S. and charged with causing the death of a South Carolina teen who took his own life after the suspect posed as a woman and tried to extort the teen after he sent nude photos, prosecutors say. The teenager was the son of South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey, who pushed through a state law making sextortion a felony and has been a vocal critic of how social media companies fail to protect minors from sexual exploitation and attacks online.
In a courtroom in Columbia on Monday, Guffey got to face 24-year-old Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, who was brought to the U.S. from Nigeria on Saturday. EDITOR’S NOTE — In the U.S., the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Guffey held a picture of his son and wore a button for the foundation he created to stop both online sexual exploitation and help teens who are victimized to understand it's a mistake and not something to be condemned over. “I can’t save Gavin. But I can hope to save other kids and not let that light be extinguished,” Guffey said at a news conference after Lawal's initial court appearance.
Lawal is charged with child exploitation resulting in death. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted. Nigeria would only extradite Lawal if the U.S. didn't seek the death penalty. He also is charged with the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, and interstate threats with intent to extort.
