Between Friday, March 12, and Sunday, March 14, 2021, law enforcement officers from around the state of Hawaii conducted Operation Keiki Shield 7 on the Island of Maui. Operation Keiki Shield is an ongoing operation to identify, locate, and arrest offenders who commit Internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children and to identify and rescue child victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The operation is under the overall blanket of the State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce and includes officers and agents from local, state, and federal law enforcement.
Operation Keiki Shield 7 was hosted by the Maui Police Department and included officers and agents from the Maui Police Department, the Department of the Attorney General, ICAC Taskforce, the Honolulu Police Department, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Honolulu, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The following is a summary of arrests and charges as a result of this operation:
March 12, 2021:
- Finehafo’ou Hafoka (26), of Kahului, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Promoting Pornography for Minors – HRS § 712-1215, Bail: $150,000.00
- Abdila Oluwatimilehin (23), of Kihei, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Bail: $150,000.00
- Jerome Ulep (34), of Kahului, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Indecent Electronic Display to a Child – HRS § 707-759, Bail: $150,000.00
March 13, 2021:
- Edward Hsu (49), of Kihei, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Indecent Electronic Display to a Child – HRS § 707-759, Bail: $150,000.00
- Ryan Kiefer-Fu (28), of Pinole, CA – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756 ,Bail: $150,000.00
March 14, 2021:
- Bruce Mann (71), of Wailuku, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Indecent Electronic Display to a Child – HRS § 707-759, Bail: $150,000.00
- Joshua Irvine (35), of Wailuku, HI – Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree – HRS § 707-756, Indecent Electronic Display to a Child – HRS § 707-759, Bail: $150,000.00
All cases have been referred to the County of Maui, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for review.
The Maui Police Department Criminal Investigation and Juvenile Crime Prevention Divisions are actively investigating additional criminal offenses as a direct result of this operation.
Due to the efforts of investigators participating in this operation, a previously unknown child victim of past sexual offenses was identified. Maui Police Department investigators are working to locate this victim and get social and mental health services to this victim.
Seven (7) different offenders were arrested and charged after soliciting what they believed to be underage people for sex and then taking substantial steps to meet up with those “minors” for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual acts with them. However, instead of minors, these offenders were actually met and arrested by law enforcement officers.
The online sexual exploitation of young children and teenagers alike in our community is happening and is a real threat. The offenders come from all different walks of life and all different backgrounds. The only commonality is the lasting emotional and physical damage that they do to our children.
The Maui Police Department and our law enforcement partners in the ICAC Taskforce are vigorously pursuing these online predators and will continue to do so for the safety of our children. In that context we have a message for you: If you are sexually exploiting the children in our communities, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent possible.