Crime & Law

2 Men Convicted of Disguising Themselves as Law Enforcement to Kidnap, Rob Victims in Chicago Suburbs

The Dirksen Courthouse is pictured in Chicago. (Capitol News Illinois)

A pair of Illinois men who disguised themselves as law enforcement agents in order to detain and rob victims in Chicago’s suburbs have been convicted in federal court.

Sedgwick Williams, 47, and Tai Hon La, 34, were each convicted on kidnapping charges this month following a two-week trial in Chicago’s federal court building. Both men face a possible sentence of up to life in prison.

The pair allegedly carried out two successful kidnappings in Naperville and Westchester, then attempted a third in South Holland which led to their capture and arrest in late 2019. Two other men — Ivan Ayers, 36, and 38-year-old Jonathan Vargas, both of Chicago — previously pleaded guilty to participating in the kidnapping scheme and are awaiting sentencing.

According to federal prosecutors, the first kidnapping occurred on Oct. 17, 2019. Williams and La allegedly posed as law enforcement officers before handcuffing and abducting a man at gunpoint outside of his electronics store, which the men then burglarized. 

Prosecutors alleged the men forced the victim into their car and took him to a vacant unit in Chicago, where they assaulted him and extorted his family.

The second kidnapping occurred about a month later in west suburban Westchester, prosecutors said. This time, the men allegedly dressed as DEA agents and handcuffed and abducted a man at gunpoint outside of his home. They forced the man back into the residence, where they detained a second victim and forced them into the home’s basement, according to prosecutors. 

The men also allegedly forced two more victims who arrived at the home later into the basement at gunpoint, before they stole cash and jewelry and fled the area.

In December 2019, Williams and La allegedly attempted a third kidnapping at a South Holland home. But the intended victim, who was inside, saw the men and called 911, alerting them that the men had approached the home while wearing all black and carrying handguns and police scanner radios, according to a criminal complaint.

A South Holland police officer arrived and saw two men at the door, who then ran off and got into an awaiting vehicle, which was then pulled over, the complaint states. Police recovered two handguns, ammunition, handcuffs, and a pair of bulletproof vests outside the home of the intended victim.

According to prosecutors, Williams and La were each convicted for their roles in the kidnapping conspiracy and the attempted kidnapping in South Holland. Williams was also convicted on individual kidnapping counts and with falsely impersonating a federal law enforcement officer, while La was also convicted of illegal firearm possession.

Sentencing dates for the men have not yet been scheduled.

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