Rumaldo Valdez, a 22-year-old former Navy Petty Officer Third Class who was stationed on Oahu, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. Following his release, Valdez will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Valdez admitted that he possessed child pornography while living on a United States military base. In May 2024, agents from the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) searched his residence at the Naval Computer and Telecom Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawa, Hawaii. During the search, investigators found hard drives containing child pornography and material depicting child abuse. Some of these files showed infant rape and torture of a toddler. Authorities also discovered an image of a nude boy holding a sign with the username “Duck#8030,” which Valdez used online.
Valdez had previously participated in an online group known as “Greggy’s Cult.” This group is accused of producing and distributing child sexual abuse material and coercing children into creating images featuring usernames carved into their skin. Members of this group, including Valdez, are facing charges in the Eastern District of New York for operating a child exploitation enterprise.
The investigation into Valdez was part of Operation Relentless Justice, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at identifying and arresting individuals involved in child sexual exploitation across the country. The operation has led to hundreds of arrests and helped locate numerous victims.
“Let Valdez’s sentence serve as a warning to any other depraved and sadistic individuals who seek to harm and exploit children – there is nowhere for you to hide, no corner of the internet you will not be found, and no stone we will leave unturned to bring you to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The protection of our children is one of our highest priorities, and in concert with our law enforcement partners, we will bring the full weight of the Department of Justice to bear on child predators.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear and uncompromising message that those who hide behind screens to exploit and terrorize our children will be brought to justice,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “No matter how organized or clandestine these groups think they are, they cannot outrun the consequences of their actions. The FBI remains relentless in our mission to protect the children in our communities, and we will aggressively pursue those who commit these horrific crimes and bring justice to their doorstep.”
“Those who prey on and exploit innocent children violate the most fundamental laws of human society and must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Anna Ryan of the NCIS Hawaii Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to rooting out and thoroughly investigating child predators.”
The case was investigated by both FBI agents and NCIS personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Jonathan D. Slack prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 designed to combat online sexual exploitation of children by coordinating resources at federal, state, and local levels.
