A shocking security breach has hit the heart of the federal vetting system, and the details are causing a firestorm in the Twin Cities.
On February 10, 2026, Bloomington Police concluded a massive prostitution and sex trafficking sting that resulted in 30 arrests.
Among those nabbed was Rashad Johnson, a 36-year-old from Maple Grove who worked as a contractor conducting background checks for the Department of Defense (DoD), specifically vetting applicants for ICE and Homeland Security (DHS).
**The Literal Gatekeeper Caught in the Net
Johnson’s role was critical to national security: he was the "gatekeeper" who decided if prospective federal agents were trustworthy enough to hold high-level security clearances.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges did not hold back during a press conference, calling the arrest one of the most "disturbing" and "scary" his department has seen.
"This is one of the guys who does your backgrounds," Hodges warned. "I don't think he'll be passing any background checks anytime soon."
- The Operation: The sting involved contact with over 330 individuals and led to 30 arrests.
- The Fallout: Johnson is now facing charges, and his security clearance—and career—are effectively over.
- The Security Crisis: Federal agencies are now forced to re-evaluate the hundreds of background checks Johnson handled. The fear is that if the person vetting agents was allegedly fueling the illegal sex trade, the agents he "cleared" may also be compromised.
This arrest comes at an incredibly volatile time for federal law enforcement in Minnesota.
The state is currently emerging from a massive ICE surge known as "Operation Metro Surge," which has seen thousands of federal agents deployed to the Twin Cities.
Just today, February 12, 2026, Border Czar Tom Homan announced that the surge would finally end after local authorities reached new "cooperation agreements."
The news of a vetting agent’s arrest only adds fuel to the fire for local leaders and activists who have been protesting the federal presence for weeks.
The "Operation Creep" Trend
This isn't an isolated incident for the Bloomington Police Department. In late 2025, Chief Hodges announced "Operation Creep," which caught another ICE auditor and a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staffer in a similar child sex solicitation sting.
The recurring theme of high-level government employees and contractors being caught in these operations has raised serious questions about the "internal rot" within federal vetting processes.
As Chief Hodges put it: "We locked him up."