ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man formerly on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list who was arrested last month in Lady Lake is back in St. Louis, where he pleaded not guilty to child sex charges Friday in federal court.
Donald Eugene Fields II, 60, was arrested Jan. 25 during a traffic stop by Lady Lake police. The officers who made the arrest that morning in the area of U.S. 441 and Rolling Acres Road were credited by the FBI for their professionalism, bravery and instincts, having initially stopped Fields over how the license plate on the vehicle he was driving was not registered to it.
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“There is no doubt this situation could have been different. But officers, these officers, handled it with professionalism, bravery, and their instincts paid off in a very big way,” FBI Resident Agent Greg Frederico said in January.
Originally indicted on Dec. 7, 2022, Fields now faces charges of child sex trafficking and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to the U.S. Justice Department. He was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list in May 2023 and stayed there until his arrest in January, according to the agency.
“Donald Fields II will finally answer federal charges thanks to the outstanding work by the Lady Lake Police Department,” Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division said in a statement. “We applaud the bravery of the alleged victims, who showed up in court today to face the defendant for the first time since he became a federal fugitive more than two years ago. The FBI will continue to provide victim services to support their emotional journey through the legal process.”
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