Arrest in British Columbia

A dual U.S.-Canadian citizen who sails around the world was arrested in British Columbia over the weekend following his indictment in Hawaii on charges of sexually exploiting a child. Donald Steven Lang, 62, was taken into custody at the request of the United States, according to federal authorities.

The indictment, filed in U.S. district court in Honolulu on Aug. 20, accuses Lang of one count of sexual exploitation of children. The U.S. Department of Justice said Lang allegedly coerced a minor into engaging in sexually explicit conduct aboard his 55-foot sailboat, the Ishi, between September and December 2024, for the purpose of producing visual depictions.

The RCMP said its detachment in Ucluelet, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, received a notification about a boat linked to Lang on Aug. 22. Officers found the vessel and arrested Lang without incident. The arrest, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, was the result of cooperation between the FBI and the RCMP, including front line officers in Tofino, the detachment in Nanaimo, and the emergency response team on Vancouver Island.

Background and Additional Charges

Lang, who has ties to multiple locations including Hawaii, Idaho, Washington state, California, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Canada, was already wanted in Idaho. A wanted poster shows he was charged in April 2025 with three counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of sexual battery of a minor, related to alleged abuse in that state dating back to between 2003 and 2007.

Authorities said Lang was last seen on his boat in Hawaii in January 2025. The FBI had warned that he could have been sailing between Hawaii and Fiji or Mexico, headed toward Papua New Guinea, or possibly Indonesia, and the bureau offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Forfeiture and Penalties

The indictment seeks forfeiture of Lang's sailboat and digital devices, including a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra phone, which prosecutors say may contain child pornography images. If convicted in the Hawaii case, Lang faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of supervised release of between five years and life.

Official Statements

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said, "Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order. We will continue to pursue this alleged offender and work with our law enforcement partners to return him to the United States to face trial." FBI Criminal Assistant Director Heith Janke said Lang had been accused by multiple victims of sexually abusing minors.