Illinois Man Arrested for Allegedly Plotting To Abduct a Child in Florida

CHICAGO - An Illinois man has been arrested in Chicago for allegedly plotting to abduct a child from a school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

DEVONTAY SHIELDS, 35, of Danville, Ill., is charged with one count of attempted kidnapping, according to a criminal complaint filed Sunday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Shields was arrested on Saturday at Union Station in Chicago as he attempted to board an Amtrak train to Miami, Fla. He remains detained in federal custody. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman.

According to the federal complaint, Shields plotted to kidnap a boy from a school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and hold him for a $100,000 ransom. Shields communicated his plans to individuals who, unbeknownst to Shields, were cooperating with law enforcement. At the direction of law enforcement, the cooperating individuals surreptitiously recorded a conversation with Shields, during which Shields stated that he planned to "get me a little boy" from the Florida school, the complaint states. Prior to leaving for Florida, Shields went to retail stores and purchased two children's toys and zip ties. He was in possession of those items when he was arrested at Union Station.

The complaint was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations. Substantial assistance was provided by the HSI Fort Lauderdale office, Chicago Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, Chicago Metropolitan Rail Police Department, Carpentersville, Ill. Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Moran.

The attempted kidnapping charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.