A 42-year-old Texas woman is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening a legal and Customs Enforcement agent who was looking into her husband’s legal status.
Following her arrest, Michelle Lee Varela appeared before a United States magistrate judge in San Antonio. She is scheduled to appear in Corpus Christi federal court shortly.
According to the unsealed criminal complaint, Varela reportedly intimidated an ICE-Homeland Security Investigations agent on June 4 while conducting a valid immigration action.
When authorities asked for information on her husband’s status in the United States, Varela allegedly yelled profanity and threatened to shoot them if he was arrested.
According to the complaint, even after law enforcement advised her not to threaten a federal agent, she continued to speak in an escalated voice and threatening tone before hanging up the phone.
“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of threatened violence against law enforcement very seriously,” U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said. “Immigration authorities must be able to carry out their lawful duties free from violence or threats, and those that attempt to obstruct or harm such agents will be held accountable.”
If convicted, Varela faces up to ten years in federal prison for threatening a federal agent and up to five years on interstate communications offenses. Both allegations carry a maximum $250,000 fine.
The investigation was undertaken by ICE-HSI, with support from the Goliad County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant US Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is handling the case.
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