Illinois man caught heading to Florida to kidnap boy in Ft. Lauderdale, DOJ says

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Federal agents nabbed an Illinois man right before he took off for Florida loaded with zip ties, toys, and plans on kidnapping a young boy from a Fort Lauderdale school, the U.S. Department of Justice stated Tuesday.

“All we got to do is grab one of the kids and hold them but it got to be a smaller kid because we can convince them with candy and toys when we take them from the school,” Devontay Shields allegedly wrote in a text message included in the criminal complaint against him.

Prosecutors did not indicate which school Shields, 35, may have been targeting. In the message he is accused of sending to a Justice Dept. source, however, he is accused of laying out his reason for picking that one.

“All the parents is rich there I sent you what they pay for each child bro,” the quoted message continued.

“Just a random little boy.”

According to the Justice Dept., Homeland Securities Investigations (HSI) agents caught up with Shields at the Union Station in Chicago, where he had planned to take a train to Miami before heading north to Fort Lauderdale. At the time, he was carrying a bag containing a “Lankybox” stuffed children’s toy, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure, and the zip ties.

Shields is charged with attempted kidnapping and is being held by federal authorities. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The federal complaint states law enforcement tracked him down with the help of a cooperating defendant and one of its sources of information. Prosecutors explained the source told agents on November 11 that the cooperating defendant wanted to meet with them about Shields.

The complaint walks through Shields alleged actions over the next several days, which included a meeting where he was reportedly recorded saying, “Get me a little boy” and he needed $1,000.

On subsequent days, Shields was reported to have purchased zip ties and a BB gun, in addition to making hotel and rental car reservations.

According to the complaint, he planned to demand a $100,000 ransom.

Prosecutors noted that, in his meeting with HSI sources, Shields never did fully identify the intended victim. They later quoted him saying that he said he was planning to kidnap “just a random little boy.”

See Also: Bus aide for St. Lucie Co. schools accused of exposing, touching 6-year-old: PSLPD

Shields’ Interview

When he spoke with investigators following his arrest, Shields is reported to have initially claimed his brother-in-law was going to take him to Florida. He stated he had never been to Miami and wanted to see what it was like.

Shields went on to say the brother-in-law used Shields’ phone to order the train tickets, according to the complaint. Similarly, he allegedly said, the brother-in-law was the one who gave him the toys and the zip ties.

According to the complaint, Shields eventually admitted to having bought those items, as well as the BB gun; however, he said that was a gift for his nephew.

Shields denied knowing anything about the kidnapping plot.

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