Church Safety Director Charged in Alleged ICE Extortion

Church Official Faces Impersonation Charges in Houston

Houston, TX – A senior church official has been apprehended in Houston, Texas, facing serious charges after allegedly leveraging a fabricated identity to extort money from a woman. Donald Doolittle, 58, who served as the safety director for Gateway Community Church in Webster, a suburb situated southeast of Houston, has been formally charged with impersonating a public servant. The accusations stem from an incident where he purportedly masqueraded as an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to coerce funds from a woman providing massage services.

The Alleged Extortion Plot Unfolds

The incident reportedly began when Doolittle booked a massage session with the victim, who operated her business from an office building located in northwest Houston. Following the completion of the service, a dispute arose concerning the method of payment. Doolittle reportedly wished to settle the bill using a credit card, but the woman stated that she exclusively accepted cash payments or digital transfers via Zelle, a peer-to-peer payment network.

It was at this juncture, according to law enforcement officials, that Doolittle allegedly escalated the situation dramatically. He reportedly brandished an identification card prominently labeled “ICE” and declared himself an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent. He then demanded to inspect the woman’s identification. Complying under duress, she presented her temporary visa.

Coercion and Threat Lead to Payment

The situation, already fraught with tension, quickly turned menacing. Authorities state that Doolittle then allegedly issued a dire threat, demanding a substantial payment. During a court hearing held on Saturday, a magistrate recounted the chilling ultimatum: “He demanded she Zelle him $500 or he would take her away and she would never see her family or children again.”

Under significant duress and fear for her safety and family, the victim reportedly transferred the requested $500 to Doolittle via the Zelle network. According to details released by ABC News, police further indicated that Doolittle later contacted the victim, attempting to assuage her fears by assuring her that she would not be contacted by other ICE agents, claiming he had marked her “case for non-prosecution.” He also allegedly instructed her to delete their prior text message exchanges, seemingly in an attempt to erase evidence of the interaction.

Victim’s Ordeal and Subsequent Reporting

The alleged extortion might have remained undiscovered had it not been for a fortuitous encounter. The very next day, the victim happened upon police officers during a lunch outing and courageously recounted her harrowing experience to them. Investigators quickly launched an inquiry into the serious allegations.

When questioned by authorities, Doolittle reportedly denied both receiving a massage and visiting the victim’s business premises. However, law enforcement officials stated that surveillance video footage obtained from the location directly contradicted his claims, providing crucial evidence against him in the ongoing investigation.

Broader Warning on Impersonation Scams

This incident underscores a growing concern regarding individuals impersonating federal agents for illicit gain. Earlier this month, the cyber crimes unit within ICE issued a public alert about various sophisticated schemes where criminals masquerade as ICE agents. Some victims have been manipulated into downloading ransomware, which then locks their computer screens with a message demanding a $400 payment to an “ICE Cyber Crimes Center” within 48 hours for unlocking their systems.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also highlighted other prevalent extortion tactics, including scammers contacting individuals via phone or email, falsely claiming to be from ICE and demanding personal information or money under the threat of deportation or immediate arrest. This particular case serves as a stark reminder for the public to remain vigilant and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement official, especially when financial demands or threats are involved. Authorities advise reporting such incidents immediately.

Source: The Guardian