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A Canadian sailor wanted for a slew of sex crimes against minors has been torpedoed by the FBI.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice , 62-year-old yachtsman Donald Steven Lang was arrested in British Columbia over the weekend.
Lang had led U.S. authorities on a years-long manhunt through the South Seas.
A new indictment alleges that Lang produced images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images were produced between September 2024 and December 2024 aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi.
The amateur sailor has been known to sail around the world and frequently harboured in Hawaii.
“Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“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 for the crimes he is charged with committing.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is unwavering in our commitment to protecting Hawaii’s children and bringing to justice anyone preying upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “I commend the continued dedication and great work of FBI and our Canadian law enforcement partners for apprehending Mr. Lang quickly and safely so that he can face justice in U.S. District Court in Hawaii for his alleged crimes.”
The feds added: “Donald Lang has been accused by multiple victims of committing sexual abuse of a minor. Lang’s apprehension was the direct result of the collaboration of the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pacific Region.”
Previous sex charges in Idaho
Prior to the alleged incidents in Hawaii, Lang had been indicted on separate charges of child sexual abuse in Idaho related to his alleged involvement in the sexual assault of a minor between 2003 and 2007.
As the Toronto Sun reported last March, Lang is facing three counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of sexual battery of a minor in Idaho.
Lang had last been seen on his sailboat in January 2025 before he disappeared from his home port in Hawaii.
The FBI warned at the time: “Lang, who is considered an escape risk, may be sailing between Hawaii and other regions like Fiji and Mexico. He has connections in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington State, California, and several other countries.”
In addition, the feds said Lang had connections in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia and Canada.
He had previously been reported missing in January 2023.
According to Honolulu Police, the experienced sailor set sail from Oahu to Maui and north in the Hawaiian Islands on his sailboat “ISHI” on Oct. 12, 2022. He was last heard from on Oct. 13, 2022, while at sea.
Lang had been slated to return to Hawaii in January 2023 but had not been seen since the fall of 2022.
What he faces if convicted
If convicted, Lang faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. He also faces a penalty of between five years of supervised release and lifetime supervised release, along with a fine of up to $250,000.
A federal district court judge will determine a sentence upon conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Anyone with information regarding this case may contact the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office at 808-426-2534, the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Anyone with information about this case may also contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or they can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov .
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HunterTOSun