Donald Steven Lang, 62, has been arrested in Canada on federal charges of producing images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Lang is accused of operating a child pornography ring from his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi, and faces extradition to the U.S. for prosecution.
Lang allegedly produced the images between September 2024 and December 2024 aboard his vessel. He is described as an amateur sailor known for cruising globally and frequently docking in Hawaii. U.S. authorities initiated a manhunt for Lang after he fled his home port in Hawaii upon learning of a $5,000 bounty placed by the FBI in 2025.
Authorities said Lang was known for his sailing skills, traveling between Hawaii and Fiji, Hawaii and Mexico, and heading towards Papua New Guinea and potentially Indonesia. He had connections in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington state, California, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Canada.
In addition to the federal charges, Lang is also wanted for his alleged involvement in the sexual assault of a minor in Idaho between 2003 and 2007. He was last seen on his sailboat in Hawaii in January 2025 before he went into hiding. Lang, who is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, was previously charged in Idaho with three counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of sexual battery of a minor.
Born in British Columbia, Lang is a veteran sailor who reportedly supported himself with odd jobs, such as boat repair. He has multiple tattoos, including a faded conch shell with the word "captain" above it on his right arm.
The FBI Criminal Division credited the apprehension to collaboration between the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated that protecting children from sexual predators is a top priority, and FBI Criminal Assistant Director Heith Janke added that Lang has been accused by multiple victims of sexual abuse of a minor.
Lang is currently being held in Canada and is undergoing extradition proceedings to return to the U.S. If convicted of the federal charges, he faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.