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.”
Back is charged with a prostitution-related felony for hiring or agreeing to hire a person reasonably believed to be under 18 but at least 16 years old. He was booked into Hennepin County Jail on Nov. 13 and released two days later on a $75,000 bond. Efforts to reach Back at a publicly listed phone number were unsuccessful.
Hennepin County court officials confirmed that Back did not enter a plea at his initial court appearance on Monday, Nov. 17. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 17.
In response to the arrest, an ICE spokesperson confirmed that Back, hired in 2022 as an I-9 auditor, has been placed on administrative leave. The agency is cooperating with local authorities and conducting an internal review through its Office of Professional Responsibility.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects child abuse to contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential, and the hotline operates 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
