Dwayne Yuen, a basketball coach from Honolulu, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to child exploitation and harassment. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. Yuen, aged 51, admitted guilt to all six counts in a First Superseding Indictment and an additional six counts filed in an Information. His offenses include sex trafficking of a minor in 2005 and 2006, coercion of another minor into sexual activity in 2006, and the production, receipt, and possession of child pornography between 2020 and 2023. He also acknowledged harassing seven other victims through anonymous communications during 2021 to 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Yuen in February 2023. Since then, he has been held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. Court documents outline criminal activities spanning nearly two decades. Yuen coached youth basketball teams composed mainly of middle school- and high school-aged girls on Oahu. The victims were players on teams coached by him.
United States Attorney Clare E. Connors commented on the case: “Cases involving the exploitation of minors by those they trust often span years, including because perpetrators spend time grooming their targets, who then may delay reporting the crimes for various reasons.” She added that this case highlights a determined effort by law enforcement and others to seek justice.
Yuen's sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2025, before Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years with a potential maximum of up to 144 years in prison for his crimes. Additional penalties include supervised release for life, mandatory restitution payments, and registration as a sex offender.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.