BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota — A civilian employee with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement is among 16 men arrested in Minnesota after allegedly attempting to hire a minor for sex. Alexander Steven Back, a 41-year-old ICE auditor from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, was taken into custody as part of an undercover law enforcement initiative named Operation Creep. Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges announced the arrest details during a news conference on Tuesday, November 18.
According to the criminal complaint, Bloomington police officers conducting an anti-sex-trafficking and prostitution of minors sting operation placed an online advertisement offering prostitution services. Back allegedly responded to the advertisement on November 13. During the exchange, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 17-year-old girl named Bella sent a text message stating she was younger than the advertisement indicated. Back allegedly replied in the affirmative to the message.
The complaint states the undercover officer then specified her age as 17 and noted a previous individual had become angry about it. Back allegedly asked the officer if they were affiliated with the police. After the undercover officer denied being with law enforcement and provided a location address in Bloomington, Minnesota, Back arrived at the scene driving a vehicle registered to his wife. Officers immediately arrested Back and seized his mobile phone.
Chief Hodges stated that upon being arrested, Back allegedly told officers, “I’m ICE, boys.” Hodges noted at the news conference that Back’s professional duties involved assisting in sending individuals to see federal authorities, and indicated that federal agencies are expected to take over the case. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement immediately provided comments regarding the arrest.
Back faces a felony prostitution-related charge for hiring or agreeing to hire an individual reasonably believed to be at least 16 years old but under the age of 18. Jail records indicate Back was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on November 13 and secured his release two days later after posting a 75,000 dollar bond. A Hennepin County court spokesperson confirmed that Back did not enter a formal plea during his initial court appearance on Monday, November 17, and is scheduled to return to court on December 17.
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