(NewsNation) — A South Carolina legislator praises a new law in his state that punishes “sextortion” blackmailers who target minors online, even though it’s too late for his own family.
Republican state Rep. Brandon Guffey lost his son, Gavin, to suicide in 2022 after the Rock Hill teen was extorted for sending compromising photos to a predator he thought was a young woman.
Under “Gavin’s Law,” sextortion offenders can be charged with an aggravated felony if their victim is underage or a vulnerable adult or if the victim suffers bodily injury or death related to the crime.
“I couldn’t save Gavin,” Guffey told “NewsNation Prime” on Saturday. “The focus is on trying to save the next kid that would be in Gavin’s shoes, or the next parents that will be in our shoes.”
A 24-year-old Nigerian man has been extradited to the United States to stand trial in federal court for Gavin Guffey’s death, prosecutors announced last month.
The elder Guffey said the suspect continued victimizing the family after Gavin's death, by sending them messages. The lawmaker said he received a message with a laughing face emoji that said, “Did I tell you your son begged for his life?”
“I believe my reply was, ‘I will end you, I will find you,’” Brandon Guffey said. “It gave me fuel to keep going.”
The father said he would like to see greater protections at the federal level to combat victimization of minors online. He said Big Tech companies currently enjoy liability protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, something he contends should change.
“Section 230 has to be repealed,” Guffey said.
Source:
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