Hawaiʻi – A First Circuit Court jury has found Jessie Samejon, 35, of Oʻahu, guilty of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The conviction stems from an investigation that was part of a statewide initiative, Operation Keiki Shield, which included the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
The defendant was arrested on June 2, 2024, after soliciting sex from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old female. Samejon agreed to pay the individual $150 in exchange for sexual acts.
Acting Attorney General Matthew S. Dvonch said of the verdict, “This verdict sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable minors.”
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor is a class B felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The court has also ordered Samejon to register as a sex offender. Samejon’s sentencing has been scheduled for December 3, 2025.
Operation Keiki Shield, which is led by the Hawaiʻi Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, involved officers, investigators, and agents from multiple agencies, including the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Honolulu Police Department, the Maui Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Secret Service.