Former AUSAO Legal Assistant Indicted for Tampering with Evidence and Terroristic Threat

On June 24, 2026, a former Brownsville, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office Legal Assistant, was Indicted by a Cameron County, TX Grand Jury for tampering with evidence a violation of Texas Penal Code 37.09 and terroristic threat a violation of Texas Penal Code 22.07. Karen O. Deleon was charged in Cameron County, Texas, District Court. According to the indictment on June 9, 2025, Deleon released the identity of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent (SA) during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement multi-agency Immigration Enforcement Operation in Harlingen, Texas, resulting in threats to the HSI SA by a Mexican National. Deleon admitted to releasing the identity of the SA during a voluntary interview at the Brownsville, Texas, AUSAO. The investigation is being conducted by OIG’s Dallas Office.