Two individuals have been charged with making threats against federal judges in the Northern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
First, Alice Marie Pence, 67, of Port Charlotte, Florida, was charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce and with intending to influence a federal official by threat. According to her indictment, Ms. Pence made a phone call in which she threatened to kill a U.S. District Judge with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the performance of his official duties.
Second, Daniel Ray Garcia, 44, currently in Texas state prison in Midway, Texas, was charged with two counts of mailing a threatening communication. According to his indictment, Mr. Garcia mailed a letter threatening to kill or injure a different U.S. District Judge.
Ms. Pence is scheduled to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, and Mr. Garcia made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno on Thursday, November 9, 2023.
An indictment is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Ms. Pence faces up to 15 years in federal prison, and Mr. Garcia faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht is prosecuting both cases.