Tou Pao Lee/Thailand/Soliciting a Minor

Tou Pao Lee, a 43-year-old illegal alien from Thailand, was arrested during a multi-agency enforcement operation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. Agencies assisting in the operation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the U.S. Marshals Service. Lee is a convicted sex offender, having been found guilty of soliciting a minor for sexual activity. He is also unlawfully present in the United States, making him subject to arrest under federal immigration law.

Following the operation, officers confirmed Lee’s illegal immigration status and transported him into ICE custody. He has been previously identified as a public safety concern due to his conviction, which involved inappropriate communication and sexual solicitation targeting a minor. Lee had not departed the United States as required and failed to comply with previous immigration orders. His criminal conviction, combined with his failure to maintain lawful immigration status, led officers to prioritize his arrest.

Lee was processed and booked into custody without incident. He is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending immigration proceedings and removal. No further details regarding his immigration hearing have been released at this time.