ICE Worker Charged In Bloomington Underage Prostitution Sting

BLOOMINGTON, MN — A Twin Cities-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee was arrested in Bloomington after police said he attempted to hire a 17-year-old girl for sex during an undercover sting involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County, 41-year-old Alexander Steven Back, of Robbinsdale, responded to an online prostitution ad on Nov. 13 and began texting with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl.

Police say Back continued the conversation even after being explicitly told the girl was 17.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said Back was one of 16 men arrested during a three-day operation targeting adults attempting to buy sex from minors.

The investigation, called "Operation Creep," began Nov. 5 and centered on identifying people seeking sexual contact with a 17-year-old.

"When he was arrested, he said, 'I’m ICE, boys,'" Hodges said at a Tuesday news conference, according to Newsweek.

“Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."

Complaint Details

According to the complaint, Back agreed to pay $200 for an hour and arrived at the arranged Bloomington location.

When he texted “I’m here,” officers saw his vehicle, registered to his wife, pull in. Police arrested him as he walked toward the entrance.

Investigators say they confirmed the same phone used to arrange the meeting was recovered from Back at the scene. In a post-Miranda interview, Back reportedly told police: "I don’t really know if there is anything to say. It’s all there in the texts."

Back is charged with felony prostitution involving a minor, accused of hiring or agreeing to hire someone he believed to be 17 years old. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

At the time of his arrest, Back was working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Bloomington police. Hodges said Back could also face federal charges.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Back posted a $75,000 bond and is scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 17 in Hennepin County District Court.