Former Navy Petty Officer Sentenced to Over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Violent Child Pornography
HONOLULU / Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Rumaldo Valdez, 22, a former Navy Petty Officer Third Class stationed on Oahu, was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. He also must register as a sex offender.
In his plea agreement, Valdez admitted to possessing child pornography on a United States military base. In May 2024, FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents searched Valdez’s residence at the Naval Computer and Telecom Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Agents found hard drives containing child pornography and child-abuse materials. Some of these materials depicted infant rape, torture of a toddler, and a “fan sign” image in which a nude boy is holding a sign that reads, “Duck#8030.” Valdez used the “Duck#8030” username while previously participating in “Greggy’s Cult,” an online group that produced and distributed child sex abuse material and extorted children into carving “fan signs” bearing the extortionists’ online usernames into their skin. Members of “Greggy’s Cult,” including Valdez, are pending charges in the Eastern District of New York for operating a child exploitation enterprise, among other crimes.
The FBI’s search and arrest of Valdez stemmed from its investigation into “Greggy’s Cult” as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown has resulted in hundreds of child victims being located and the arrests of hundreds of child sexual abuse offenders.
“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.”
FBI and NCIS investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Jonathan D. Slack prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Contact
Aislinn Affinito
Aislinn.Affinito@usdoj.gov
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii
