Portland Teenager Charged With Bias Crime After Impersonating ICE Officer in 7-Eleven Extortion Attempt

19-year-old Mason Thomas Clark faces bias crime charges in Portland after allegedly impersonating an ICE officer to extort a 7-Eleven clerk.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS Austin

A Bold Impersonation and Threat of Extortion

A 19 year old Portland resident is facing multiple felony charges following a confrontational encounter at a Southeast Division 7-Eleven. On March 29, Mason Thomas Clark allegedly entered the establishment and identified himself to a clerk as an official from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to court documents, Clark presented the employee with a chilling ultimatum, demanding money under the threat of targeting the clerk’s family. The incident escalated quickly when the suspect allegedly threatened to shoot the worker after being told that no cash was available for the taking.

The Role of Intimidation and Bias in the Assault

The victim, who is of Asian descent and an immigrant, reported to authorities that he felt a profound sense of fear for his personal safety during the exchange. This specific targeting led prosecutors to include a charge of second-degree bias crime in the arraignment. Clark’s intimidation tactics were bolstered by the presence of a handgun holstered on his hip, which investigators later determined to be an airsoft replica. The intersection of fraudulent federal authority and targeted threats against an immigrant worker has placed the case under intense scrutiny by local civil rights advocates.

Tactical Deception and Recovered Evidence

During the subsequent police investigation, officers uncovered several items used to facilitate the ruse. Among the evidence was a transit fare card modified with a faded sticker designed to resemble a police badge. When interviewed by detectives, Clark alleged that an associate identified only as "Tim" had orchestrated the plan, providing both the fake firearm and the instruction to impersonate a federal agent. Despite these claims of outside influence, Clark was identified as the primary aggressor who approached the register to issue the demands.