Roger Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, was convicted by a federal jury on May 14 of producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography involving at least one child under the age of 12. United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced the conviction on May 19. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, and Biggs remains detained while awaiting sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison.
The case underscores ongoing efforts to combat child sexual exploitation. The prosecution said that holding offenders accountable sends an important message about protecting children from online predators.
Evidence presented during the four-day trial showed that in December 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an anonymous complaint alleging sexual exploitation by Biggs. Subsequent reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children linked Biggs to multiple incidents reported by both members of the public and social media platforms. According to testimony and messages shown in court, Biggs described himself as a “groomer” who targeted mentally and emotionally vulnerable children through direct messages on social media platforms. In one message to a victim he wrote: “i [sic] prey on vulnerable children.” Prosecutors said he sent gifts, money, photographs of himself, and sexually explicit communications before convincing victims to send him images or videos depicting sexually explicit conduct.
Among his victims were two fourteen-year-olds living on the U.S. mainland; he traveled to meet one in person. Authorities also found images depicting prepubescent minors under twelve years old on his cellular phone.
“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 case was investigated by the FBI with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006—to combat online child sexual exploitation nationwide.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii upholds federal justice across Hawaii’s islands with its main office located in Honolulu; it employs over twenty lawyers alongside forty staff members conducting criminal investigations as well as representing civil matters for approximately 1.5 million residents according to the official website.
