Kenneth Dean Lee Arrested After Posing As Immigration Official, Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 7-Year-Old Girl
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Aurora have arrested Kenneth Dean Lee, accused of posing as an immigration official and then sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl. Lee was arrested on charges of sexual assault on a child and first-degree burglary after allegedly going into a home on Dec. 9.
Detectives from Aurora Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit responded and Lee was arrested the next day.
Lee was convicted of similar charges in 2014 and sentenced to 23 years to life in prison at that time. He was paroled in April 2020.
A statement from District Attorney John Kellner about sexually violent predator Kenneth Dean Lee being paroled: pic.twitter.com/Ih0SfTCoAn
— DA Office of 18th (@DA18th) December 22, 2021
The 18th Judicial District Attorney tweeted out a statement that reads in part, "I am incredibly frustrated that a person convicted of sexually violent crimes was released years early and given an opportunity to offend again. I am sure I am not the only one wondering how this could happen.
"I think we deserve answers from the Department of Corrections, the Parole Board and the Sex Offender Management Board. I want to know how a convicted sex offender who was found to be a sexually violent predator by the judge was released so early and apparently without adequate monitoring. These victims and their families, and every parent, deserve to know what DOC and the Parole Board are doing to prevent something like this from happening in the future."
Investigators are concerned that there may be more victims connected to Lee and say that any more possible victims should know they are safe to come forward with their story regardless of immigration status.
Additional Resources
An ICE official shared the following information with CBS4 following the publication of this report:
People who pose as ICE officers and agents attempting to exploit their victims are committing a crime.
These criminals identify themselves as federal law enforcement officers, employees or contractors of ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and will ask for or demand money, sexual favors, or merchandise from the victim in exchange for lawful immigration status, immigration documents, or other immigration services. The documents are never provided, or if provided, are fake. An ICE employee will never ask a member of the public for payment of any type.
Protect Yourself: You can protect yourself by reporting any fraudulent schemes to the anonymous ICE Tip Line: 1-866-347-2423.
ICE personnel will never:
• Offer lawful immigration status or other immigration services in return for money or a favor
• Use the internet or telephone to contact a member of the public to offer immigration services in exchange for payment through pre-paid cash cards like GreenDot, or services like Western Union and MoneyGram
• Use a third-party person to ask for and collect a fee from a member of the public in exchange for immigration services
• Ask a member of the public for payment of any kind
Real Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials wear badges that are labeled " Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent," which members of the public can ask to see and verify. ICE officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) wear badges labeled "ICE Officer." They also carry credentials with their name and organization.
Members of the public who receive such visitors should ask to see these properly labeled badges, and their credentials.