U.S. Marshals Announce Results of 'Operation Chicago Shield'

Chicago, IL – Combined efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Chicago Police Department, and the Illinois State Police sent a strong message to everyone in Chicagoland: Law enforcement is working with community members to put a shield between the innocent and those who want to prey on the innocent.

Operation Chicago Shield targeted sex offenders and individuals with sex offense warrants in Chicago and surrounding areas over the last 10 weeks, from August 22, 2022, to October 31, 2022. Personnel from different agencies successfully worked together in teams to cover multiple jurisdictions. Operation Chicago Shield focused on investigating and locating non -compliant sex offenders, arresting sex offenders with warrants, and apprehending individuals with sex offense warrants. The operation included personnel and resources from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Northern District of Illinois, Sex Offender Investigations Branch, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Investigative Operations Division’s Business Integration Center. The Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police both contributed critical resources and personnel during the operation. The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force combined personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service and partner agencies to target violent fugitives.

Operation Chicago Shield resulted in 148 arrests, including;

• 15 warrant arrest for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
• 133 additional warrant arrest for sex offenses against children or adults

Operation Chicago Shield is the first operation of the Chicago Shield Initiative, a long-term effort by the U.S. Marshals Service to protect children and communities in the Chicago area. The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to work with partner agencies to target non-compliant sex offenders and sex offenders with active warrants. The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary law enforcement agency for fugitive and non-compliant sex offender investigations and has implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy across the nation, including the coordination of multi-agency enforcement operations.

Sex offenders who are currently non-compliant with their sex offender registration requirements should immediately report to a law enforcement agency to complete a registration as required by law.

"Multi-agency operations like this one are successful only because of the contributions from law enforcement personnel and the support from community members," said U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds. “The hard work by everyone, each and every day, had a strong and positive impact on the Chicago area. I look forward to similar operations in the near future.”

"Non-compliant sex offenders are on notice that there are consequences for not following their registration requirements," said Chief Inspector Bryon Carroll.

Chief Carroll also stated, "I am very proud of the operation personnel who worked many long days to shield children and communities from those who want to cause harm."

"Taking dangerous fugitives off the streets of Chicago has an immediate impact on public safety," said Task Force Commander Diego Grimaldo. "Targeting fugitives with sex crime warrants is a priority for us and our partner agencies."

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

For additional information, please contact U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds at ladon.reynolds@usdoj.gov or Chief Inspector Bryon Carroll at bryon.carroll@usdoj.gov.