HONOLULU, HI – Mikael Salvador Rivera, 48, of Kapolei, Hawaii, will spend the next eight years in federal prison after being sentenced today for the sexual abuse of three inmates while employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Honolulu. Senior U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright handed down the 96-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, citing the egregious nature of Rivera’s betrayal of trust.
Rivera, who worked at FDC from approximately 2014 to 2018, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to sexually abusing his position of authority. Court documents reveal Rivera admitted to ordering one inmate to perform sexual acts against her will and engaging in abusive conduct with two others. He exploited his access, leaving cell doors unlocked to facilitate undetected encounters with his victims. The guilty plea only came after Rivera attempted to evade justice, triggering a multi-day manhunt across Oahu before his capture.
Judge Seabright didn’t mince words during sentencing, delivering a scathing rebuke of Rivera’s actions. “There is nothing in mitigation, nothing I see but a gross abuse of Mr. Rivera’s position of authority within FDC, and a gross abuse of that power in sexually abusing these three inmates over one calendar year,” the judge stated. “His conduct was the exact opposite of what was intended. You were supposed to help, to rehabilitate those in your care. Instead, you preyed on them. You became a predator to them.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson emphasized the severity of the crime and the importance of holding those in positions of power accountable. “Correctional officers serve an invaluable role… entrusted to ensure order… and the safety of our inmates,” Sorenson said. “Their conduct erodes public faith in our institutions and justice system, and we must accordingly seek to investigate, prosecute, and punish those who abuse vulnerable inmates in federal custody.” He warned that such misconduct “will be investigated, prosecuted, and severely punished.”
Federal investigators echoed those sentiments. Anne Walsh, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Western Region, stated the abuse was a “profound breach of public trust.” FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added that Rivera “not only… committed horrific acts of sexual violence and silence his victims, but his actions undermined the efforts of all correctional officers.” The FBI will “investigate and hold accountable anyone who violates federal law, regardless of their position.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Ayabe, along with Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart from the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), led the prosecution, with support from former PIN Deputy Chiefs Jennifer Clarke and Marco Palmieri. The case serves as a stark reminder that abuse of power within the federal corrections system will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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