Honolulu Man Convicted of Child Exploitation Offenses, Including Production of Child Pornography and Sex Trafficking of Children

News Release from U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii, Wednesday, March 11, 2026

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that a federal jury today convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, of production, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography, sex trafficking minors, and enticement of minors.  Riley was convicted of all 12 counts related to his sexual exploitation of five minor boys on Oahu in 2019 and 2020.

According to evidence presented at trial, Riley used the online app Grindr to meet five boys who ranged in age from 14 to 16 years old.  Riley then engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against them, which included recording them engaged in sex acts with him.  In one video, Riley directed one of his victims to say his age, and the victim stated, “I’m 14.”  In discussing a meet up for a sexual encounter, when another victim asked Riley if it was okay that he was only 15 years old, Riley responded that it was “really hot.”  Riley also offered the victims numerous things of value, including money, drugs, and iPhones, to engage in sexual activity.  Many of the victims Riley paid were in need.  One, for example, was struggling to afford consistent meals, and another was saving money and other items in anticipation of being kicked out of his family home due to his sexuality.  On one occasion, Riley abused two victims back-to-back in the same hotel room.  During his pattern of abuse, Riley provided controlled substances to several of his victims.  For example, after Riley provided one victim MDMA and other pills, the victim described drifting in and out of consciousness while Riley abused him.  Multiple victims tried to avoid meeting up with Riley and refuse his sexual advances, but Riley persisted.

Riley’s crimes were uncovered when he was arrested by DEA at the Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii.  A search of his phone in connection with the methamphetamine investigation revealed a collection of child pornography, including multiple videos of victims under twelve years old who were being sexually abused by adults.

“Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.  “The evidence at trial was overwhelming, and the courage the five young victims demonstrated in recounting for the jury their abuse at the hands of Riley was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars.  We will continue to aggressively pursue, charge, and convict predators like Riley that victimize our children and threaten our families.”

“This verdict holds Darren Riley accountable for his egregious pattern of abusing minors in numerous ways,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “Protecting children from predators such as Riley is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice.  The victims who bravely testified in this trial described his outrageous pattern of exploitation, which included enticing vulnerable children with money and drugs, filming himself engaging in sex acts with them, and drugging them to incapacitation with or without their knowledge.  We will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who preys on our children.”

“The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter.  “This is the direct result of the relentless work of our agents and partners to protect the children in our communities.  There is no corner of the internet or crevice on the globe where these predators can hide, as the FBI will use every resource at its disposal to bring them to justice.”

At sentencing, Riley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison on particular charges.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

FBI field offices in Honolulu and Los Angeles investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.