Three men charged in Naperville, Westchester kidnappings

Three men have been indicted on federal kidnapping charges alleging multiple victims were abducted at gunpoint last year in Naperville and Westchester.

Tai Hon La, 31, of Beach Park, and Chicago residents Sedgwick Williams, 43, and Ivan Ayers, 33, are in custody and charged with participating in a kidnapping conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. A superseding indictment filed Nov. 17 accuses them of carrying out kidnappings in Naperville and Westchester and attempting a third in South Holland.

The first occurred Oct. 17, 2019, when the three men posed as law enforcement officers to abduct an electronics store owner outside his Naperville business, according to the U.S. attorney's office, referencing the indictment and an unsealed federal search warrant.

The victim was treated at a hospital after the defendants held him captive, physically assaulted him, extorted his family and burglarized his business, officials said.

The indictment states the second kidnapping took place nearly a month later in Westchester, where Williams and Ayers posed as police officers again, abducted a man outside his house and forced him and another victim into the basement. Two more victims arrived later and were also forced into the basement at gunpoint, documents show.

The defendants are accused of stealing cash and jewelry before leaving the residence, officials say.

The indictment indicates a third kidnapping was attempted Dec. 11, 2019, but the three men were unsuccessful in gaining entry into the targeted South Holland house.

A kidnapping conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The men also are charged with individual kidnapping and attempted kidnapping counts, as well as a count of illegal firearm and ammunition possession, officials said, adding that each defendant was prohibited from legally possessing a gun or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.

Arraignments are scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz.