HONOLULU, HI – Dwayne Yuen, 49, a Honolulu resident and youth basketball coach, is facing federal charges after being arrested today for possession of child pornography. The case, detailed in a criminal complaint unsealed upon his arrest, reveals a disturbing pattern of exploitation targeting a former player, and raises serious questions about the safety of young athletes.
According to U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, Clare E. Connors, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Honolulu FBI Field Office, Matthew Floyd, the investigation began after evidence surfaced of inappropriate communications between Yuen and the victim, who he coached while she was a freshman in high school around 2016. The complaint alleges that in 2020, while the victim was still a minor, Yuen engaged in explicit text exchanges, sending sexually suggestive photos of himself and requesting similar material from her. He also allegedly offered her money and gifts in exchange for sexual acts, including “phone sex.”
Law enforcement, executing a search warrant on Yuen’s Apple iCloud account, reportedly recovered sexually explicit images of the victim. These images were either sent by her at Yuen’s request or captured without her knowledge during live video chats. The FBI is now actively working to determine if other individuals may have been victimized by Yuen. “This complaint charges defendant with repeatedly taking sexual advantage of a minor who played on a team he coached,” Connors stated. “The alleged conduct is a reprehensible violation of the trust both parents and the community place in adults responsible for their children’s athletic endeavors.”
Floyd echoed the sentiment, calling Yuen’s alleged actions “disgraceful.” “Our investigation shows he abused the power of his position as a trusted member of the community to exploit the most vulnerable – our keiki,” he said. “Protecting our children and holding those who prey on them accountable is a top priority for the FBI. We will stop at nothing when investigating these heinous crimes.”
Yuen is scheduled to make his first court appearance on February 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Rom Trader. If indicted and convicted of the offenses detailed in the complaint, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely accusations at this stage, and Yuen is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you or someone you know may have been affected by Yuen’s conduct, the FBI urges you to come forward. Contact them via:
- Phone: (808) 673-2719
- Website: www.fbi.gov/yueninvestigation
- Email: yueninvestigation@fbi.gov
The investigation is being led by the FBI, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Perlmutter and Christine Olson. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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