Kauai USDA safety inspector convicted of federal child exploitation charges

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Kauai man has been convicted of multiple federal child exploitation charges following a four-day trial.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture safety inspector Roger Wesley Biggs,40, led a secret online life, grooming vulnerable boys and coercing them into producing sexually explicit images.

The investigation began in 2024 after an anonymous tip was sent to the FBI’s Honolulu office. Authorities said the tip led investigators to uncover thousands of explicit online messages showing a pattern of grooming behavior across state lines.

Federal investigators tracked Biggs’ travel records and determined he met one victim, a 14-year-old boy, in person in Philadelphia. According to court testimony, the teen’s cellphone contained sexually explicit messages exchanged with Biggs, along with photos sent at his request.

Prosecutors described Biggs as a serial predator who targeted minors online, sending gifts and money to victims in exchange for nude images. Authorities also said he persuaded some victims to carve his online username into their skin.

Retired Honolulu Police Department Deputy Chief John McCarthy said grooming often involves isolating victims from their support systems.

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“The groomer wants to disassociate this person from their family and friends and take over control,” McCarthy said. “It’s all about control and manipulation.”

McCarthy urged parents to watch for warning signs, including unexplained gifts arriving by mail, sudden behavioral changes, social withdrawal or increased secrecy about online activity.

He also emphasized that digital evidence rarely disappears.

“The information is there. Don’t ever believe that the information goes away,” McCarthy said.

Biggs remains in federal custody and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Authorities said the case highlights how online sex crimes often begin with internet contact and rely on public tips to initiate investigations.

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