Federal and state investigators are examining the conduct of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) employee accused of injecting sensitive law-enforcement information into a social-media livestream—an act authorities say intensified an online death threat against a federal agent.
The arrest has drawn scrutiny, especially amid rising tensions at the southern border.
Karen Olvera De Leon, employed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brownsville, was taken into custody on Nov. 20 and charged with terrorism and tampering with or fabricating evidence, both felonies under Texas law.
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office confirmed she was booked into the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center and later released on a $20,000 personal-recognizance bond, according to LifeZette.
Prosecutors said the case originates from a June 9 immigration enforcement operation in Cameron County conducted by multiple federal agencies.
Bystanders streamed the raid live on social media, creating a real-time forum where comments accumulated as the operation unfolded.
Investigators allege that during the livestream, a male participant issued an explicit death threat against one of the agents visible on camera.
Authorities claim Olvera De Leon escalated the situation by providing the agent’s full identity and personal details.
Officials described the action as doxxing—the deliberate release of identifying information—which significantly heightened the danger to the agent.
“A viewer of the live stream commented providing the identity of the federal agent to the person making the threat,” the district attorney’s office stated, identifying Olvera De Leon as the participant.
The incident prompted a multi-agency investigation involving both state and federal authorities.
Digital forensics traced the comment back to Olvera De Leon, and prosecutors allege she attempted to delete or manipulate portions of her digital footprint after the threat gained attention, leading to the additional evidence-tampering charge.
Local officials emphasized that the terrorism charge reflects the seriousness with which Texas treats the dissemination of sensitive information alongside direct threats to law enforcement personnel.
The second-degree felony carries a potential prison sentence of two to 20 years if convicted. The tampering charge is also classified as a felony, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Law enforcement leaders highlighted the broader security context.
Border personnel have faced increased threats throughout the year, including a July 2025 shooting at a McAllen Border Patrol facility, where a gunman in tactical gear opened fire before being neutralized by responding officers.
Authorities said this environment underscores why allegations against a DOJ employee are treated as particularly serious.
Officials stressed that the investigation will continue in coordination with federal partners and warned that any attempt to compromise agents’ safety or conceal such conduct will be aggressively prosecuted.
“Any actions that threaten federal agents or attempt to conceal such activity will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law,” the district attorney’s office said.
The case has raised concerns about insider security risks within federal agencies.
Analysts note that employees in sensitive positions are expected to maintain strict confidentiality and operational integrity. Observers say the proceedings are likely to draw national attention as they continue.
Olvera De Leon is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Prosecutors have indicated they will pursue the charges fully, citing the need for deterrence amid rising online threats targeting federal personnel.
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