A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement worker was among 16 men arrested in a Minnesota trafficking investigation that targeted individuals seemingly attempting to solicit a minor for sex, police said.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said at a news conference on Tuesday that the three-day “Operation Creep” began on November 5 and focused on identifying people seeking to purchase sex from a 17-year-old girl.

“When he was arrested, he said, ‘I’m ICE, boys,’” Hodges said. “Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up.” Alexander Back, 41, of Robbinsdale, is a civilian auditor with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has been charged in the sting, Fox 9 reported. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.