Sheriff uses $500 trick to arrest 230 people

An Elgin man was among the 230 suspects arrested on outstanding warrants during a sting operation conducted by the Cook County Sheriff's Office at a Chicago hotel this month, the sheriff announced Sunday.

Justin Taylor, 27, of 1560 St. Andrew Circle, was arrested on an warrant for driving on a suspended/revoked license. Upon his arrest, police found 2.5 grams of marijuana in his pocket, reports said.

Taylor and the other 229 fugitives -- who were wanted on such charges as DUI, aggravated battery to a police officer, failure to pay child support, forgery, retail theft and unlawful use of a weapon -- were lured by a fake mailing from "Shoptastic Solutions" that offered at least $500 in holiday shopping money.

The mailing announced they had been selected to participate in a shopping survey to aid local retail stores in determining shoppers' needs for the remainder of the holidays. The mailer included a "scratch off" card with boxes that would reveal a cash prize or double the amount in gift cards. Offenders were instructed to bring the card with them to redeem their prize once they completed the survey.

Over two days, 61 offenders arrived at the conference room of a hotel on Chicago's South Side and were arrested as they took their seats to begin the survey. Another 169 people who made reservations to participate but failed to show were arrested during a sweep across Cook County these past two weeks.

According to police, Taylor arrived at the Chicago hotel driving his own car. He told undercover officers he planned to celebrate with the drugs after collecting his money from the survey, reports said. He was later charged with driving on a revoked license and possession of cannabis.

"Wanted fugitives continue to find ways to elude the law and forgo paying their debt to society," Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said. "We will continue to find creative ways to draw them out from the shadows and bring them to justice."