Church Safety Director Accused of Posing as Federal Agent
A 58-year-old man employed by a Texas church has been arrested and charged with the serious offence of impersonating a public servant. Donald Doolittle, who served as the safety director at the Gateway Community Church in Webster, located south-east of Houston, is alleged to have used a fake identity to extort money from a woman.
The Alleged Extortion Incident
According to police reports, the incident began when Doolittle booked and received a massage from a woman operating from a business in north-west Houston. When the session concluded, a dispute over payment arose. The woman stated she only accepted cash or payments via the digital network Zelle, while Doolittle attempted to use a credit card.
It was at this point, authorities say, that Doolittle produced an identification card labelled "ICE" and claimed to be an agent with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He then demanded to see the woman's identification, and she complied by showing him her temporary visa. He allegedly then demanded she send him $500 via Zelle, threatening that if she refused, he would take her away and she would never see her family or children again.
Fearing deportation and separation from her family, the victim transferred the money. Police further stated that Doolittle later told her she would not be contacted by other ICE agents because he had marked her case for non-prosecution. He also asked her to delete their text message exchange.
How the Scheme Unravelled
The extortion plot came to light purely by chance. The following day, the victim happened to meet police officers at a lunch and recounted her terrifying experience. When investigators interviewed Donald Doolittle, he denied both receiving a massage and visiting the victim's place of business. However, law enforcement officials confirmed that surveillance footage from the building directly contradicted his statements.
A magistrate detailed the charges during a court hearing held on a Saturday, confirming the gravity of the accusations against the church employee.
Official Warnings on Impersonation Scams
This case emerges amidst ongoing warnings from federal authorities about criminals masquerading as ICE officials. Earlier this month, a cyber crimes unit within ICE issued an alert about such schemes. In some instances, victims are directed to download ransomware that freezes their computers, displaying a message demanding a $400 payment to the fictitious 'ICE Cyber Crimes Center' within 48 hours to unlock the device.
The Federal Trade Commission has also highlighted similar extortion efforts. Scammers, operating via phone or email, falsely claim you have violated immigration law, that your identity information is incorrect, or that you owe fees. They often threaten to involve the police or have you deported if you do not comply, and frequently instruct victims not to discuss the matter with anyone else.
