A 62-year-old dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, Donald Steven Lang, was apprehended in Canada following allegations of child exploitation. Federal authorities announced the arrest on Tuesday, concluding a widespread search.
Lang faced indictment in Hawaii in August for sexual exploitation of children. Prosecutors accused him of exploiting a minor between September and December 2024 on his 55-foot sailboat, Ishi. They claimed he coerced the minor into sexually explicit conduct to produce visual depictions.
The Department of Justice noted Lang’s habit of sailing worldwide, often stopping in Hawaii. The FBI’s search significantly extended beyond the islands. They warned he might sail across the Pacific to evade authorities.
Lang, seen with his sailboat Ishi in Hawaii last in January 2025, was potentially navigating towards Fiji, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, or Indonesia. He had connections in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington, California, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Canada.
Federal prosecutors seek the forfeiture of his sailboat, digital devices, and storage media, including a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra phone, if convicted. Lang also faced separate child sex abuse charges in Idaho as authorities there charged him in April 2025 with lewd conduct and sexual battery involving a minor from 2003 to 2007.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva emphasized the priority of protecting children from sexual predators. The FBI, committed to justice, previously offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Lang’s arrest. They considered him an escape risk.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with their Pacific Region teams and the FBI, collaborated to apprehend Lang. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a role in securing the arrest.
If convicted in Hawaii, Lang faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, potentially extending to 30 years, with fines up to $250,000 and supervised release from five years to life.
Stepheny Price, a writer with Fox News, covers West Coast and Midwest news, national and international crime stories, and border security.