Photo: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
A civilian Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) worker tried to flex his employment with the agency when he was arrested for attempting to hire minors for sex, per PEOPLE.
According to the Bloomington, Minnesota Police, 41-year-old Alexander Steven Back, an ICE auditor from Robbinsdale, was among the 16 men arrested on Thursday (November 13) during "Operation Creep," an undercover effort involving several law enforcement agencies.
Back allegedly responded to an online ad posted by officers and began communicating with someone he believed to be a 17-year-old girl. When an undercover officer texted, “U ok if I’m a lil younger than my ad says... just wanna be honest,” Back replied, “Sure,” according to a criminal complaint. After confirming he wasn’t “with the cops,” Back arrived at a Bloomington address in a car registered to his wife, where officers arrested him and seized his phone.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said Back flexed his ICE employment status during his arrest.
“I’m ICE, boys," Back told officers.
“My understanding is he helped send people to see federal authorities,” Hodges said. “I think he’s going to see some federal authorities because I think the feds are going to take this case.”
Back was charged with a felony count of hiring or agreeing to hire a person reasonably believed to be a minor at least 16 but under 18. He was booked into Hennepin County Jail and later released on a $75,00 bond.
The ICE auditor didn't enter a plea during his initial court appearance on Monday (November 17). His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
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