Honolulu Man Convicted on 12 Counts of Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation

Darren Patrick Riley was convicted by a federal jury for the sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of five minors on Oahu. Read the details of the investigation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii.

Predatory Use of Social Media Apps

The trial revealed that Darren Patrick Riley utilized the online application Grindr to identify and contact his victims. Operating on Oahu between 2019 and 2020, Riley specifically targeted vulnerable minors, ranging in age from 14 to 16 years old. Evidence presented in court showed that Riley was fully aware of the victims' ages, even recording one child stating he was only 14. Prosecutors argued that Riley systematically exploited the personal hardships of these boys, offering money, drugs, and electronics to secure their compliance.

Exploitation of Vulnerability and Substance Abuse

The conviction highlighted a disturbing pattern of coercion. Riley reportedly targeted minors who were in desperate financial situations or facing rejection from their families. To facilitate the abuse, Riley provided controlled substances, including MDMA and various pills, to several of his victims. One witness testified to drifting in and out of consciousness while being abused after Riley provided him with narcotics. Despite multiple attempts by the victims to refuse his advances, Riley persisted in his predatory behavior, at one point abusing two victims in the same hotel room.

Accidental Discovery and Investigation

Riley’s criminal activities were brought to light by chance when he was arrested by the DEA at Los Angeles International Airport. While Riley was initially apprehended for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii, a subsequent search of his mobile phone by investigators revealed a extensive collection of child pornography. This collection included videos depicting the sexual abuse of victims under the age of 12 by adults, which prompted a deeper federal investigation into his activities on Oahu.