Minnesota ICE Employee Among 16 Men Arrested in Sting Targeting Minors

A civilian employee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota is among 16 men accused of attempting to hire a minor for sex in a law enforcement sting operation in Bloomington, authorities said.

Alexander Steven Back, 41, an auditor with ICE from Robbinsdale, Minn., was arrested as part of “Operation Creep,” Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges announced during a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

According to Back’s criminal complaint, obtained by authorities, he allegedly responded on Nov. 13 to an online advertisement offering prostitution services. The ad had been placed by officers conducting a sting operation.
An undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl, identified in the complaint as Bella, texted Back: “U ok if I’m a lil younger than my ad says… just wanna be honest.” Back allegedly replied, “Sure.”

“K cause I am 17 and one guy got hella mad at me,” the officer wrote. Back reportedly asked if she was “with the cops,” to which the officer responded she was not, and provided an address in Bloomington.When Back allegedly arrived in a vehicle registered to his wife, police arrested him and seized his phone, according to the complaint.

During his arrest, Back reportedly identified himself to officers by saying, “I’m ICE, boys.” Chief Hodges noted, “My understanding is, he helped send people to see federal authorities. I think he’s going to see some federal authorities because I think the feds are going to take this case.”