Globetrotting sailor nabbed in Canada over alleged child sex crimes aboard sailboat: FBI

An alleged child predator accused of exploiting a child aboard his sailboat was arrested in Canada, after the FBI warned he could be sailing across the Pacific Ocean to evade authorities.

Donald Steven Lang, 62, was taken into custody over the weekend at the request of the United States, federal authorities said Tuesday, ending a far-reaching search for the globe-trotting sailor.

Lang, a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, was indicted Aug. 20 in Hawaii on one count of sexual exploitation of children.

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Prosecutors allege he exploited a minor between September and December 2024 aboard his 55-foot sailboat, Ishi.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Lang was known to sail around the world and frequently harbored in Hawaii. But the FBI’s search for him extended far beyond the islands.

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The bureau warned Lang, who was last seen on board Ishi in Hawaii in January 2025, could have been sailing between Hawaii and Fiji or Mexico, headed toward Papua New Guinea, or possibly Indonesia. He had ties or connections in Hawaii, Idaho, Washington state, California, Fiji, the Marquesas Islands, Mexico and Canada, the FBI said.

Federal prosecutors allege that Lang attempted to and knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions.

The indictment identifies his sailboat as a 55-foot, 1985 Taylor Hatfield oceangoing sailing vessel.

Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the boat, digital devices and storage media, including a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra phone, should Lang be convicted.

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Lang was already wanted in Idaho in a separate child sex abuse case, authorities said.

Kootenai County prosecutors charged Lang in April 2025 with three counts of lewd conduct towards a minor under 16 and one count of sexual battery of a minor in connection with allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor between 2003 and 2007.

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"Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order," Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said. "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."

FBI Criminal Assistant Director Heith Janke said Lang had been accused by multiple victims of sexually abusing minors.

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"The FBI remains committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing offenders to justice who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our communities," Janke said.

The FBI had offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Lang’s arrest and warned he should be considered an escape risk.

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Lang’s apprehension came through cooperation between the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Pacific Region, authorities said. The RCMP’s Tofinoofino General Duty, Island District GIS, Nanaimo Detachment and Island District ERT assisted in the arrest, while the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs helped secure it.

If convicted in the Hawaii case, Lang faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years behind bars. He could also face a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release of between five years and life.