A dual U.S.-Canadian citizen wanted on a federal child sexual exploitation charge was arrested near Ucluelet, British Columbia, ending a monthslong search after the FBI warned he could be sailing across the Pacific Ocean to evade capture.
Who Was Arrested
Donald Steven Lang, 62, was taken into custody over the weekend of August 22-23 at the request of U.S. authorities, in an operation involving multiple Vancouver Island RCMP detachments working alongside the FBI. Lang had been indicted August 20 in Hawaii on one count of sexual exploitation of children.
The Allegations
Prosecutors allege Lang exploited a minor between September and December 2024 aboard his 55-foot sailboat, named Ishi. Before his arrest, the FBI had also been offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture over a separate, older allegation that he raped a minor in Idaho between 2003 and 2007.
What Comes Next
If convicted on the Hawaii charge, Lang faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, along with post-release supervision and financial penalties. His arrest followed an extended search across multiple countries and law enforcement jurisdictions, reflecting the difficulty of tracking a suspect who investigators say used long-distance sailing to try to stay ahead of authorities.
