South Texas woman charged with threatening to shoot federal agent following an investigation conducted by ICE San Antonio, local partner

SAN ANTONIO — A South Texas woman was taken into custody June 11 for threatening a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agent in the performance of his duties. The investigation is being conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio with assistance from Goliad County Sheriff’s Office.  

Michelle Lee Varela, 42, from San Antonio was charged by criminal complaint. It was unsealed as made she made her initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in San Antonio. She is expected to be in Corpus Christi federal court in the near future.

The charges allege that on June 4, Varela influenced, impeded or retaliated against a federal officer by threat and used interstate communications to transmit a threat to injure another. Specifically, Varela allegedly made threats via cell phone to an agent with ICE.

According to court documents, authorities were conducting a lawful immigration action and had requested information from Varela regarding her husband’s status in the United States. She allegedly used profanity and said if her husband was taken into custody, she would shoot them. The charges allege law enforcement advised her to consider her remarks as she had just threatened a federal agent, but she continued in an elevated voice and a threatening tone. She eventually hung up the phone, according to the complaint.  

If convicted, she faces up to 10 and five years in federal prison for the threat and interstate communications allegations, respectively. Both charges also carry a possible $250,000 fine, upon conviction.

“The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of threatened violence against law enforcement very seriously,” said Nicholas J. Ganjei, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas. “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.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth from the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.