Operation Keiki Shield

Between Friday, May 20, and Sunday, May 22, 2022, law enforcement officers from around the state of Hawaii conducted Operation Keiki Shield 12 on the Island of Maui. Operation Keiki Shield is an ongoing operation to identify, locate, and arrest offenders who commit Internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children and to identify and rescue child victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The operation is under the overall blanket of the State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce, and includes officers and agents from local, state, and federal law enforcement.

Operation Keiki Shield 12 was hosted by the Maui Police Department and included officers and agents from the Maui Police Department, the Department of the Attorney General, ICAC Taskforce, the Honolulu Police Department, the Kauai Police Department, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Honolulu, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The following is a summary of arrests and charges as a result of this operation:

May 21, 2022:

Andrew Lovell (43) of Wailuku, HI

Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree - HRS § 707-756

Bail: $100,000

John Staten (40) of Lahaina, HI

Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree - HRS § 707-756

Bail: $100,000

Joel Quiocho (26) of Kahului, HI

Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree - HRS § 707-756

Bail: $100,000

All cases are being referred to the County of Maui, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for review with additional referrals of some cases made to federal law enforcement agencies for review of violations of federal law.

Three (3) different offenders were arrested and charged after soliciting what they believed to be children for sex and then taking substantial steps to meet up with those "minors" for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual acts with them. However, instead of minors, these offenders were actually met and arrested by law enforcement officers.

Since the first iteration of Operation Keiki Shield on Maui in March of 2020, twenty-six (26) suspects have been arrested on Maui.

The online sexual exploitation of young children and teenagers alike in our community is happening and is a real threat. The offenders come from all different walks of life and all different backgrounds. The only commonality is the lasting emotional and physical damage that they do to our children.

The Maui Police Department and our law enforcement partners in the ICAC Taskforce are vigorously pursuing these online predators and will continue to do so for the safety of our children. In that context we have a message for you: If you are sexually exploiting the children in our communities, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent possible.

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