Three Hawaiʻi men arrested as part of federal operation to identify child sex predators

A coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators resulted in the arrest of 293 child sexual abuse offenders, including three from Hawaiʻi.

More than 205 child victims were located during the Department of Justice’s Operation Relentless Justice, which was executed over two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices nationwide.

“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable among us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”

Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking.

In the District of Hawaiʻi, three individuals were arrested and charged with federal crimes, including:

• Rumaldo Valdez, who was charged by an information with possession of child pornography following an investigation into his participation in “Greggy’s Cult,” an online group that produced and distributed child sex abuse material and engaged in other forms of exploitation and harassment of minor and adult victims. The defendant pled guilty on Oct. 24 and is awaiting sentencing.
• Elias David, who was charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, based on videos investigators uncovered of the defendant engaged in sexual conduct with a minor victim whom he coached in volleyball.
• German Zboron, who was charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine following what began as an investigation into a string of sex crimes.

As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce child sex abuse material. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.

“The FBI, united with our partners, continues in the fight to protect our children – and that fight is not over,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Our ongoing collaboration across the whole of government underscores our collective commitment to aggressively pursue child predators and take them off the board.”

Operation Relentless Justice follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders, including two from the District of Hawaiʻi, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders, including one from the District of Hawaiʻi.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains dogged and unyielding in our efforts to protect Hawaiʻi’s keiki and seek justice against those who have harmed them,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Together with our partners at the FBI, we will continue to hunt down child predators and eradicate the scourge of child exploitation in our community.”

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children through the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

As part of its mission to support victims navigating the aftermath of a crime, the FBI’s Victim Services Division assisted victims during this operation and provided services, including forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners.

The department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.

The department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-225-5324, or by calling the local FBI field office.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.