A federal jury in Honolulu convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, on March 11 of 12 counts related to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of five minor boys in Oahu during 2019 and 2020, according to United States Attorney Ken Sorenson.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about child exploitation and abuse, particularly involving online platforms. Authorities said Riley used the app Grindr to contact boys aged between 14 and 16, arranging sexual encounters by offering money, electronics, or drugs. He then filmed these acts and distributed the videos. In one instance, Riley directed a victim to state his age on camera.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Riley abused his victims in various locations including his apartment, car, beaches, and hotel rooms he paid for. Some victims were provided with controlled substances such as MDMA; one described losing consciousness while being abused. The crimes came to light after Riley was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration at Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii. A search of his phone revealed child sexual abuse material.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said: “This verdict is the next step to holding Darren Riley fully accountable for his egregious pattern of preying upon and abusing children. We commend the victims who bravely testified at trial despite the trauma they endured from a serial predator. Their testimony, along with the good work of law enforcement and the prosecutors, exposed Riley’s horrific, repeated exploitation. The work of the jury now ensures that Riley will not be a threat to other children in the future. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting offenders like Riley, as one of the Department’s highest callings is protecting America’s children.”
Sorenson said: “Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children. 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.”
FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added: “The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict. 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.”
Riley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison on certain charges; sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
The case was investigated by FBI offices in Honolulu and Los Angeles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills are prosecuting it as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation.
