Devan Caulk, 21, was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison after admitting he coerced a child he met online into producing sexually explicit photos and videos, a case prosecutors say escalated from messaging to threats when the victim resisted. His sentence also includes ten years of supervised release, and he must register as a sex offender after his release.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii, Caulk pleaded guilty in October 2025 and was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. The office said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As reported by Hawaii News Now, court records say Caulk began an online relationship with a child, lied that he was 15 years old, and used Instagram video transmissions to direct the child to remove clothing and perform sexual acts. Prosecutors allege that when the child refused additional demands, Caulk threatened to post a screenshot of the image.
Investigation and arrest
Federal agents executed a search warrant at a Kalihi residence in July after Meta alerted the FBI with a priority cyber tip, Hawaii News Now reported. Retired FBI agent Tom Simon told Hawaii News Now, “Sextortion isn't just about images, it's about control.” Reporting also indicates several victims lived outside Hawaii, including in Canada and the Philippines.
Legal context
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative that targets online sexual exploitation of children, in its press release. The office noted that Caulk must register as a sex offender and said the prison term was imposed to hold him accountable for coercing and producing sexual material involving a minor.
Where this fits locally
Federal prosecutors in Hawaii have recently secured lengthy sentences in child exploitation cases, signaling a sharpened focus on online grooming and sextortion of minors. Last August, for example, former youth basketball coach Dwayne Yuen received a roughly 33 year sentence in a high profile child exploitation case, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
