Roger Wesley Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe is staring at a long stretch in federal prison after a jury convicted him last Thursday of producing, receiving and possessing child pornography following a four-day trial. Prosecutors said Biggs targeted vulnerable minors online, convinced some to create sexually explicit images and videos, and kept material that included at least one image of a prepubescent child. He remains detained and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with sentencing set for Sept. 3, 2026.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, the case began in December 2024, when the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an anonymous online tip naming Biggs. Investigators later pulled together numerous CyberTipline reports sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and laid that trail of digital evidence out for jurors at trial. Prosecutors said Biggs called himself a serial “groomer,” poured thousands of direct messages into his victims’ inboxes, and used gifts and money to win their trust.
How investigators say he groomed victims
Prosecutors and local reporting say Biggs reached out to children through social-media direct messages, first sending photos, gifts and cash, then escalating to requests for explicit images. Hawaii News Now reports that Biggs worked as a U.S. Department of Agriculture safety inspector on Kauai and that investigators tracked his trips to the U.S. mainland, including a meeting with a 14-year-old in Philadelphia. Court testimony also showed that investigators recovered more illegal images from his cellphone, including material involving a child younger than 12.
Federal officials respond
“We remain committed to bringing to justice those depraved individuals like Roger Biggs who target, groom, and then victimize children,” U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said in the office’s release. FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added, “The FBI will never waver from our mission to identify and apprehend those who prey on our children,” underscoring how seriously federal agents are treating online exploitation cases in Hawaii.
What’s next in the case
Biggs was convicted on federal counts of producing, receiving and possessing child pornography and remains in custody as he awaits sentencing on Sept. 3, 2026, when he will face at least 15 years behind bars under mandatory minimum guidelines, according to local reporting. Hawaii News Now and other outlets report the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. Local outlets including KITV note, along with Hoodline’s earlier coverage of a separate Honolulu conviction, that the verdict fits into a broader rise in federal prosecutions of online child exploitation in the islands.
Resources for families
Authorities say cases like this often crack open because of public tips and digital breadcrumbs, not because victims come forward on their own. Parents are urged to watch for unexplained gifts, sudden secrecy around phones or computers, or sharp changes in behavior. To report suspected online sexual exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. Victims and families looking for support can also reach the Victim Witness Assistance staff listed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the toll-free number 888-310-9018 for information and help navigating the process.
