A routine traffic stop in Lady Lake, Florida, led to the capture of one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, Donald Eugene Fields II, wanted for child s*x trafficking and rape charges.
At a Glance
- Donald Eugene Fields II, a fugitive on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, was apprehended during a routine traffic stop in Lady Lake, Florida
- Fields was wanted on federal charges of child s*x trafficking and state charges of child rape
- Sgt. Michelle Bilbrey of the Lady Lake Police Department made the arrest after noticing an unregistered license plate
- Fields had been a fugitive since March 2022 after failing to appear for a court hearing in Missouri
- The arrest highlights the importance of routine police work and law enforcement collaboration
Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Major Arrest
On January 25, 2025, around 9:15 a.m., what began as a typical Saturday morning in Lady Lake, Florida, quickly turned into a historic moment in law enforcement. Sgt. Michelle Bilbrey of the Lady Lake Police Department conducted a routine traffic stop that led to the apprehension of Donald Eugene Fields II, a man who had been evading authorities for nearly three years and was listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Sgt. Bilbrey’s attention was drawn to the vehicle due to an unregistered license plate. This observant act of routine policing resulted in the capture of one of the nation’s most sought-after fugitives, demonstrating the critical role that everyday police work plays in maintaining public safety.
The #FBI praised Lady Lake Police, a small department an hour northwest of Orlando. Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson said, "Thanks to proactive policing by the Lady Lake Police Dept, Donald Fields II was arrested during a routine traffic stop."https://t.co/1mv4o5w0QV
— FBI St. Louis (@FBIStLouis) January 27, 2025
Fields was wanted on serious federal charges of child s*x trafficking and state charges of child rape. He had been a fugitive since March 2022, when he failed to appear for a court hearing in Missouri. On December 7, 2023, Fields was federally indicted in St. Louis for attempting to recruit and exploit a minor for commercial s*x acts between January 2013 and June 2017.
“Sometimes, an everyday traffic stop turns into a real game-changer. This is a reminder that every officer, every day, is out there making a real difference. Every traffic stop is an opportunity for justice. What starts as a routine encounter can quickly turn into a pivotal moment, where an officer’s sharp instincts and dedication to service lead to a significant arrest—keeping our community and in this case, the nation, safer,” Lady Lake Police Chief Steve Hunt said.
The charges against Fields in Missouri are extensive, including statutory rape, statutory sodomy, child molestation, and witness tampering. These allegations underscore the severity of the crimes Fields is accused of and the importance of his capture.
Fields had been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in May 2023, becoming the 531st fugitive to be included since the list’s establishment in March 1950. His capture marks the 495th apprehension or location of a listed fugitive, with 163 of these successes attributed to citizen cooperation.
“We knew that he had a pattern of traveling to Florida because he used to own a property in the Tampa area. So we put that information out to the public as well as our law enforcement partners. We now know that since that time, Mr. Fields made changes to his physical appearance, and that was one of the ways he was able to evade detection and avoid accountability until his capture this weekend,” Greg Federico, FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent said.
The arrest of Fields in Lady Lake, located about 52 miles northwest of Orlando, came after a nationwide manhunt involving multiple investigators, agencies, and public tips. His capture underscores the effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration and public support in such high-profile cases.
Aftermath and Proceedings
Following his arrest, Fields is set to make his first court appearance in federal court in Florida. The capture has been hailed as a significant achievement by law enforcement officials, including FBI Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson, who commended the Lady Lake Police Department for their proactive policing.
It almost seems like God intervened, doesn’t it?