Church Employeeโ Accused of Posingโข as ICE agent in Extortion Scheme, Houstonโฃ Police say
A man employed by Gateway Community Church is facing charges after allegedly identifying himself asโ an ICE agent โand extorting money from a โฃwoman in Houston, โpolice announced Saturday. Investigators say 34-year-old Ryan Doolittle โคdemanded $500 from teh victim, โคthreatening deportation if โคshe โdidn’tโข comply.
The incident โฃhighlights the vulnerability of immigrant communities too fraud and โthe potential for abuse of authority, even when falsely claimed. Doolittle’s arrest follows a swift investigation triggered by โthe victim reporting the scheme to officers, and raises questions about vetting โขprocedures for individuals in positions of trust within religiousโข organizations.Heโค is currently held on a $10,000 bond, and the โขcase โคis proceeding thru the Harris County โcourt system.
According to police reports, Doolittle approached the woman at her business and presented an identification card claiming to be โขan ICEโข agent.He then requested to see herโ identification, which she provided inโข the โform of a temporary โvisa. The situation escalated when Doolittle allegedly demanded she send โขhim $500 via the Zelleโ digital payment network, warning her she would be deported and separated from her familyโข ifโ she refused.
After โthe victim sent the money, Doolittle allegedly texted her, โfalsely assuring โขher that her case had been โmarked for non-prosecution and instructing her to deleteโ their conversation. The following day, she recounted the experience to police officers she encountered at a luncheon.โค
Investigators say Doolittle initially denied visiting the woman’sโ business or providingโฃ a โmassage, but surveillance footage contradicted his claims.A magistrate detailed the โคalleged extortion during Doolittle’s probable cause hearing on Saturday, stating, “He demanded sheโ Zelle him $500 or he โคwould take her away โand she wouldโ never see her familyโข or children again.”
Gateway Community Church has not yet responded to requests for comment. Zelleโข is a widely used digital payment network facilitating money transfers between bank accounts.