A Virginia man who was convicted of multiple counts of child pornography and sexual abuse of minors has been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2024. Donald Eugene Fields II, 38, has been on the run since 2022, when he failed to appear for his sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Background
Fields was arrested in 2020, after an investigation by the FBI and the Virginia State Police revealed that he had produced and distributed child pornography involving several victims, some as young as 4 years old. He also sexually abused some of the children he exploited, according to the FBI. Fields pleaded guilty to four counts of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. He faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Escape and Manhunt
Fields was released on bond pending his sentencing, which was scheduled for June 2022. However, he cut off his electronic monitoring device and fled the area, leaving behind a note that said he was sorry for what he had done and that he loved his family. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service have been searching for Fields ever since, following up on hundreds of leads and tips from the public. Fields is considered armed and dangerous, and may have altered his appearance or used aliases to evade capture. He has ties to Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and may have traveled to other states or countries.
Reward and Appeal
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of Fields. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. The FBI also asks the public to be on the lookout for any signs of child exploitation or abuse, and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Conclusion
Fields is the latest addition to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, which was established in 1950 to increase public awareness and assistance in the apprehension of the nation’s most dangerous criminals. Since then, 524 fugitives have been placed on the list, and 492 have been captured or located, with 163 of them as a result of public cooperation. Fields is the only fugitive from Virginia currently on the list, and the second one from the state in its history. The first was Thomas Brooks, who was wanted for the murder of a Virginia State Trooper in 1979, and was captured in 1983. The FBI hopes that Fields will soon join the ranks of the captured, and face justice for his heinous crimes.