A Nigerian man accused of orchestrating a devastating "sextortion" scam that led to the death of a South Carolina teen has been extradited to the United States. Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, 24, appeared in court in Columbia on Monday, where he faces multiple charges, including child exploitation resulting in death and cyberstalking.

The case centers on 17-year-old Gavin Guffey, who died by suicide in July 2022 after allegedly being blackmailed by Lawal. Prosecutors say Lawal posed as a young woman on social media, persuaded Gavin to send explicit photos, and then demanded money, threatening to share the images publicly if he didn’t pay.

Gavin’s father, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, described feeling "rage" upon seeing Lawal in court. "I think I cracked molars just gritting my teeth so hard," he told reporters. The grieving father has spent the past two years fighting for justice, even helping pass a state law named after his son that criminalizes sextortion of minors.

Law enforcement officials say the extradition process was complex and involved coordination between US and Nigerian authorities. Lawal now faces up to life in prison if convicted, with mandatory minimum sentences for certain charges.

The FBI has warned that sextortion scams targeting young people, particularly boys, are on the rise, with tragic outcomes like Gavin’s becoming alarmingly common. Brandon Guffey has since taken his advocacy further, suing Meta, Instagram’s parent company, for failing to protect minors from online predators.

"Teen safety is a top priority for us," a Meta spokesperson said last year, but Guffey argues more needs to be done. He’s also collaborating with a tech company developing a child-safe smartphone to prevent similar tragedies.

"Awareness is 90% of the battle," Guffey said. "My mission in life is to protect kids until the day I die."

As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable users.