Federal Jury Convicts Hanapepe Man of Producing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography After 4-Day Trial

HONOLULU - United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Roger Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, was convicted by a federal jury on May 14, 2026, of producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, including of at least one child under the age of 12, following a four-day trial. Sentencing is set for September 3, 2026. Biggs remains detained pending sentencing, where he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison.

At trial, the evidence showed that in December 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an anonymous online complaint regarding allegations of the sexual exploitation of a child. The complaint identified the subject as Roger Wesley Biggs, of Hanapepe, Hawaii. The FBI later became aware of numerous CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which were related to Biggs. These CyberTipline reports were filed by members of the public as well as multiple social media platforms.

The evidence at trial showed that Biggs was a serial, self-described "groomer" who targeted children, many of whom were mentally and emotionally vulnerable. Biggs contacted the children through direct message communications on social media platforms, sending thousands of messages to his victims. In one such message, he admitted to his victim: "i [sic] prey on vulnerable children." Biggs groomed the children by sending them photographs of himself, gifts, and money, and by engaging in sexually explicit communications with them. He then convinced the children to produce, and send him, images and videos of themselves involved in sexually explicit conduct.

Among his many victims, were two 14-year-olds on the U.S. mainland, one of whom Biggs traveled to meet in person. Biggs was also convicted of possessing child pornography on his cellular phone, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.

"We remain committed to bringing to justice those depraved individuals like Roger Biggs who target, groom, and then victimize children, the most vulnerable members of our community," said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. "While we cannot undo the harm Biggs inflicted on his minor victims, we are committed in the belief that charging and obtaining convictions in these cases sends a forceful message that those who seek to exploit and prey upon our children will be held accountable in federal court."

"The FBI will never waver from our mission to identify and apprehend those who prey on our children," said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. "Despite the defendant's attempts to hide his illicit activities behind a screen, the expertise and persistence of our investigators brought his crimes to light, and justice to his doorstep. This verdict is a testament to the tireless work of the FBI's Crimes Against Children Task Force and our commitment to protecting our island communities and youth."

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner prosecuted 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.