DHS Employee Charged with Soliciting Sex from Minor in Minnesota Sting Operation

A recent operation targeting sex trafficking led to the arrest of 16 individuals, including a 41-year-old employee of the Department of Homeland Security, Alexander Steven Back. The arrests occurred in Bloomington, Minnesota, as part of a multi-agency investigation dubbed “Operation Creep,” which was spearheaded by local law enforcement authorities. The operation was designed to uncover individuals allegedly attempting to solicit sex from minors.

Police Chief Booker Hodges announced the arrests during a news conference, detailing that the suspects were misled into believing they were communicating with a 17-year-old girl. Back, who is affiliated with Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reportedly attempted to leverage his government position during his arrest. According to Hodges, Back made an assertion about his role, signaling that he expected to evade consequences due to his employment with ICE.

With a sophisticated approach to its execution, the sting operation involved the arrested individuals engaging in text conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a minor. The suspects were apprehended after arriving at a hotel in Bloomington, located approximately ten miles south of Minneapolis. Notably, Back arrived in a vehicle registered to his wife and had his mobile phone confiscated by authorities.

Following his arrest on Thursday, Back secured his release from custody on Saturday after posting a ,000 bond. He now faces one count of prostitution but has yet to enter a plea during a scheduled court hearing. He is expected to appear in court again on December 17. Of the 16 individuals arrested, three have been officially charged, while prosecutors continue to review evidence against the remaining 12.

This incident transpires against a backdrop of scrutiny concerning the hiring practices within ICE. Recent reports indicated that some employees may have been inadequately vetted, raising concerns about their backgrounds, including previous criminal activity and failures to meet established standards. As authorities continue to address these serious allegations, the fallout from Operation Creep underscores a critical need for reform and oversight within federal agencies involved in law enforcement and public safety.

As investigations continue, the implications of this operation may reverberate throughout the community and beyond, reaffirming the necessity for rigorous accountability within the ranks of individuals entrusted with safeguarding citizens against such grievous crimes.