Canadian Arrest Captures Sailor Accused of Running Child Abuse Ring on Yacht

Donald Steven Lang, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and experienced sailor, was taken into custody in Canada over the weekend on federal charges of producing child pornography aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi. Prosecutors say the illegal images were created from September through December 2024 while the vessel was docked in various Pacific ports, including Hawaii, Fiji, Mexico and possibly Indonesia. The arrest resulted from coordinated action by the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, after Lang fled his Hawaiian home port upon learning of a $5,000 bounty placed on him in 2025.

In addition to the federal case, Lang is wanted in Idaho for earlier offenses involving lewd conduct and sexual battery of a minor. He is currently held in Canada and faces extradition, with a possible maximum penalty of 30 years in prison if convicted.