Rumaldo Valdez, a 22-year-old former Navy Petty Officer Third Class stationed on Oahu, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. After serving his prison term, Valdez will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Valdez admitted to possessing child pornography while living on a U.S. military base. In May 2024, agents from the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) searched his residence at the Naval Computer and Telecom Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawa, Hawaii. During the search, agents discovered hard drives containing images depicting severe child abuse, including infant rape and torture of a toddler. One image showed a nude boy holding a sign with the username “Duck#8030,” which Valdez used online.
Valdez had participated in an online group called “Greggy’s Cult,” which produced and distributed child sexual abuse material and coerced children into creating “fan signs” bearing members’ usernames. Members of this group are facing charges in the Eastern District of New York related to operating a child exploitation enterprise.
The investigation that led to Valdez’s arrest was part of Operation Relentless Justice, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in child sexual exploitation. This nationwide effort has resulted in locating hundreds of victims and arresting numerous offenders.
“Let Valdez’s sentence serve as a warning to any other depraved and sadistic individuals who seek to harm and exploit children – there is nowhere for you to hide, no corner of the internet you will not be found, and no stone we will leave unturned to bring you to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The protection of our children is one of our highest priorities, and in concert with our law enforcement partners, we will bring the full weight of the Department of Justice to bear on child predators.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear and uncompromising message that those who hide behind screens to exploit and terrorize our children will be brought to justice,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “No matter how organized or clandestine these groups think they are, they cannot outrun the consequences of their actions. The FBI remains relentless in our mission to protect the children in our communities, and we will aggressively pursue those who commit these horrific crimes and bring justice to their doorstep.”
“Those who prey on and exploit innocent children violate the most fundamental laws of human society and must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Anna Ryan of the NCIS Hawaii Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to rooting out and thoroughly investigating child predators.”
The case was investigated by both FBI and NCIS agents. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Jonathan D. Slack prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national program launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 that brings together federal, state, and local resources to address child sexual exploitation through improved detection, apprehension, prosecution efforts, as well as victim identification.
