McALLEN — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was released from federal custody on Friday after facing charges for allegedly misleading investigators regarding the shooting of a Venezuelan man during an immigration operation in Minnesota last winter.
Christian Castro has been indicted for claiming to investigators that he was assaulted with a broom and a shovel before he shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in January. The indictment asserts that Castro’s statements were false.
During a brief hearing in McAllen’s federal court, Castro appeared in shackles on his wrists, waist, and feet after surrendering to authorities the previous evening. The judge granted him release on a $75,000 unsecured bond, requiring him to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
Defense attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Rolando Cantu stated that Castro plans to plead not guilty. He is scheduled to return to federal court in Minnesota on September 18.
This case marks the first prosecution of a federal officer by the Justice Department in connection with the extensive Operation Metro Surge, which deployed thousands of agents to the Twin Cities. This operation sparked widespread protests, numerous arrests, and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers.
The allegations outlined in the federal indictment echo charges brought against Castro by Minnesota authorities, who have also accused him of assault and providing false information related to the nonfatal shooting of Sosa-Celis.
According to the indictment, Castro recounted to an FBI agent that he was struck by a man wielding a red broom while attempting to detain another individual outside a Minneapolis residence. He also claimed that another person hit him with a snow shovel, prompting him to fire his weapon while on the ground as the men fled.
However, the indictment suggests that Castro’s account is inaccurate, stating that he had only a brief physical interaction with Sosa-Celis and another man before they entered a home containing a one-year-old child. Castro allegedly fired a shot through the front door as the men were closing it, injuring Sosa-Celis in the leg. The indictment explicitly states, “No person struck” Castro “with a broom as he described, and no persons wielded the broom and snow shovel as he described.”
An attorney representing Castro urged the public to refrain from premature judgments, emphasizing the need for a fair trial. David Lindenmuth noted that Castro has a history of public service, having served in the military prior to his role as a federal immigration officer.
“His life has been that of public service to our country and to our nation, either through its military or protecting its borders and enforcing its laws,” Lindenmuth said following the hearing.
Initially, federal prosecutors had charged Sosa-Celis and another man, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, with assault, but these charges were dropped after video evidence suggested that Castro may have fabricated details about the encounter. Castro was suspended from ICE in February as investigations continued.
The federal investigation into Castro has sparked internal discord within the Justice Department. A prosecutor involved in the case alleged that higher officials obstructed efforts to pursue more severe civil rights charges. In an email retrieved by ProPublica, the prosecutor indicated that Castro was only being charged with making false statements against his “strongest objections,” suggesting that the decision was influenced by higher authorities.
Despite the current charges, a source familiar with the investigation indicated that the civil rights inquiry is ongoing and additional charges could still be forthcoming.
Matthew Evans, the prosecutor who raised concerns, has been dismissed, and the Justice Department is now investigating whether he violated any laws in his management of the case, as reported by an anonymous source familiar with the situation.
Sosa-Celis’ attorney is advocating for more severe charges against Castro, asserting that Castro’s statements were an attempt to conceal the fact that he shot Sosa-Celis through the door of an occupied home without justification for self-defense. “Mr. Sosa Celis wants Mr. Castro to be held fully accountable for his crimes,” stated attorney Robin Wolpert. Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota announced that Sosa-Celis intends to seek damages from the federal government.
