'Operation Creep' Identifies ICE Employee Sending Explicit Texts to a 17-Year-Old Girl

A civilian employee of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been federally indicted for allegedly engaging in explicit communications and seeking sexual contact with someone he believed to be a 17‑year‑old girl during an undercover law‑enforcement operation. Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal indictment against 41‑year‑old Alexander Steven Back of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, charging him with attempted enticement of a minor in connection with an undercover sting known as Operation Creep.

In the operation, law enforcement officers posed online as a 17‑year‑old girl and communicated with individuals allegedly seeking to solicit sex. Back's indictment alleges he responded to the online advertisement, engaged in explicit text messages and travelled to a pre‑arranged meeting point before his arrest by local police.

Undercover Sting Leads to Multiple Arrests

Operation Creep was conducted over three days beginning on Nov. 5,  2025 by the Bloomington Police Department in collaboration with other regional law‑enforcement agencies. The sting targeted adults attempting to solicit sexual contact from a decoy they believed to be a 17‑year‑old girl. Law enforcement officers posted advertisements on websites commonly associated with the solicitation of commercial sex, according to public statements by police officials.

During a press conference, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges announced that the operation resulted in the arrest of 16 men. Among those taken into custody was Alexander Steven Back, identified as a civilian employee of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Most of the other suspects were local to the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

In widely reported remarks at the press conference, Hodges said that upon Back's arrest he stated, 'I'm ICE, boys,' in an apparent attempt to assert his federal affiliation before being taken into custody. Police processed and jailed him alongside the other suspects. Local court records and complaints from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office show that Back also faces a county charge of soliciting prostitution involving a minor, an offence that carries a potential prison sentence and fine under Minnesota law.

Federal Indictment and Court Proceedings

The federal indictment filed in the United States District Court in St. Paul alleges a violation of federal laws concerning the enticement of a minor. Federal enticement statutes, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), make it unlawful to use interstate commerce — including electronic communications — to attempt to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. The government must prove that the defendant knowingly attempted such enticement.

Back initially appeared in federal court following the unsealing of the indictment. He did not enter a plea at his first appearance, and his next hearing was scheduled for a later date. He remains free on a £60,000 ($75,000) bond posted after his arrest on state charges.

The indictment marks a significant escalation from local prosecution to a federal criminal proceeding, reflecting the gravity of allegations involving the electronic solicitation of minors. Federal prosecution often follows when crimes cross state or national lines or involve communications through electronic platforms, as in this case.

Employment Status and Agency Response

Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed Back on administrative leave from his civilian auditor role. An ICE spokesperson confirmed his employment and said the agency was cooperating with local authorities while conducting its own internal review through the Office of Professional Responsibility. Statements from ICE emphasised that Back's position was non‑law‑enforcement and that he had been hired in 2022.

The placement of a federal employee at the centre of such allegations has raised questions about federal hiring practices and workplace oversight. Civil liberties groups and child protection advocates often highlight the need for stringent background checks and monitoring for individuals in sensitive positions, especially given the ease of access that electronic communications provide in coordinating illegal contact. However, such debates hinge on broader policy discussions beyond this case alone.

The federal indictment of an ICE auditor in 'Operation Creep' thrusts into sharp relief the perils of digital solicitation and the imperative for accountability at every level of public service.