A church employee in Texas has been charged with impersonating a public servant and attempted extortion.
Donald Doolittle, safety director at Gateway Community Church in Webster, was arrested on Friday following an investigation into his interactions with Houston massage therapist Rita Mayans.
Doolittle attempted to pay for a massage with a credit card, but when Mayans said she only accepted cash or Zelle, a US digital payment app, he reportedly pulled out a card marked “ICE,” appearing to impersonate a federal immigration officer.
According to authorities, he demanded to see Mayans’s ID. When she showed her temporary visa, the 58-year-old allegedly ordered $500 (£380) or “he would take her away and she would never see her family or children again,” ABC News reports.
Mayans later received a message from Doolittle claiming the case was closed and that she would not hear from ICE officers again.
She reported the incident the next day, leading to Doolittle’s arrest. Court documents show he was released on a $10,000 (£7,600) bond.
The case comes amid a rise in ICE impersonations across the US, which authorities say threaten public safety and erode trust in law enforcement.
Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: “Anyone caught impersonating a federal immigration agent will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
The church’s lead pastor addressed the situation with his congregation, saying: “We are committed to handling this situation with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.”
Neither Doolittle nor the church has provided further comment.