A 34-year-old Honolulu man has admitted to a federal child pornography charge tied to a national online child-exploitation crackdown, and now faces up to a decade in prison.
David Martin Garcia Perez pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to one count of possessing child pornography. He was arrested last year in Honolulu during a major FBI operation targeting alleged online child-exploitation offenders and remains at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu while he awaits sentencing.
Plea Tied To Nationwide Operation Restore Justice
Perez’s guilty plea traces back to his May 2025 arrest during Operation Restore Justice, a five-day effort led by the FBI that the Department of Justice says resulted in 205 arrests and the rescue of 115 children across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii has identified Perez as one of two people charged in Hawaii as part of that sweep.
What He Admitted To And What He Faces
According to Hawaii News Now, court records show Perez pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possession of child pornography. The single felony count carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and at least five years of supervised release. Court filings also state he will be required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives and confirm he is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.
Federal Law And Sentencing Context
Under federal law, possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography are treated differently. Possession on its own typically has a lower statutory maximum and, in many cases, no mandatory minimum sentence. By contrast, receipt or distribution offenses can carry a mandatory minimum of five years and significantly higher maximum penalties when aggravating factors are present.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission reports that possession offenses generally fall in a 0 to 10 year range. Sentences can increase when the material involves very young children or when a defendant has prior sex-offense convictions. Judges also frequently impose lengthy terms of supervised release in addition to prison time, along with sex-offender registration requirements.
Next Steps In The Honolulu Case
With the guilty plea entered, Perez’s case now moves into the sentencing phase. A federal probation officer will prepare a presentence investigation report, and the judge will consider that report along with arguments from prosecutors and the defense before deciding on a sentence. Local reporting indicates that no public sentencing date has been set, and Perez remains in federal custody in Honolulu, according to Hawaii News Now.
