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Los Angeles officials have announced sweeping charges filed against numerous individuals accused of sparking violence as riots against immigration efforts continue to plague the sanctuary city.
In a news conference Tuesday, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and California Highway Patrol Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris announced additional federal and state charges filed against numerous alleged rioters.
“This group wanted to commit crimes,” Hochman said. “They looked at the protest as a cover, an opportunity to go ahead and ply their illegal trade and commit a whole variety of crimes that, in many ways, has done a huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there.”
CALIFORNIA SHERIFF SAYS NEARLY A DOZEN DEPUTIES INJURED IN ANTI-ICE RIOTS
Police detain a man during a protest in Paramount, Calif., June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Several arrests have stemmed from peaceful protesters reporting acts of violence, and over 45 law enforcement agencies aided in the efforts to maintain order throughout the city, Hochman said.
One of the suspects, William Rubio, has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a police officer and two felony counts of using a destructive device to injure or destroy after allegedly hurling fireworks toward law enforcement during the riots, according to Hochman.
Essayli revealed additional instances of individuals charged with federal crimes for their alleged roles in the violent riots.
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Los Angeles Police Department officers move in on demonstrators in front of LA City Hall during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles June 8, 2025. (Reuters/Barbara Davidson)
One of the protesters, Alejandro Orellana, was charged with conspiracy to commit civil disorder, along with aiding and abetting civil disorder, Essayli said. Prosecutors allege Orellana passed out face shields to people behaving violently.
“These face shields are designed to protect from chemical splashes and flying debris,” Essayli said, “which helps protect violent agitators from less than lethal weapons deployed by law enforcement.”
After the FBI executed a search warrant at Orellana’s home, authorities say they discovered a wrist rocket-style slingshot, ammunition, plastic goggles and a notebook with abbreviations for “All Cops are B——” and “murder” that allegedly belonged to Orellana.
Each charge filed against Orellana carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.
FBI WILL INVESTIGATE ‘ANY EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY’ IN LA RIOTS
Firefighters respond to a car burning during a protest in Compton, Calif., June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Essayli also pointed to the arrest of Adam Charles Palermo for his alleged role in attacking CHP officers. Palermo was charged with attempted arson of a vehicle used in interstate or foreign commerce after he was allegedly caught on camera participating in the violence.
“[Palermo’s] social media account contained a collage of photographs and videos depicting a man holding flying debris, a CHP patrol car on fire, and various other damage to CHP patrol cars,” Essayli said. “He wrote, ‘All of the protests I’ve been involved in, which is well over 100 now. I’m most proud of what I did today.’”
If convicted, Palermo could face to 20 years in prison.
“He will not be doing any protests for the next foreseeable future,” Essayli said.
DOZENS OF ANTI-ICE RIOTERS ARRESTED IN LA AS TRUMP SENDS IN NATIONAL GUARD TO QUELL VIOLENCE
A law enforcement officer fires a projectile during a protest Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Noah Berger/AP Photo)
In addition to the numerous new charges, the IRS is looking into dozens of organizations and nonprofits’ funding of the protests as part of a long-term investigation.
“The IRS [specializes] in tracing the money and finding out where it’s coming from [and] where it’s going,” Essayli said.
Since the first weekend of protests, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested 575 people, according to a media release.
“These crimes don’t advance any cause or further any message at all,” LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said. “What they do is endanger the lives of our officers [and] harm our communities, small businesses who are desperately trying to recover in a very challenging atmosphere and our civic institutions.”
ICE RAMPS UP ARRESTS OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS AS RIOTS RAGE IN BLUE CITY: ‘YOU WILL NOT STOP US’
On Saturday, 38 people were detained on various charges, including curfew violations, failure to disperse and resisting arrest as protests coincided with the “No Kings” demonstrations sweeping the nation. The protests were aimed at countering the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary military parade, which took place on President Donald Trump’s birthday.
The total comes as authorities look to regain control after riots kicked off in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the sanctuary city.
For several nights, police clashed with protesters in the streets of downtown LA, deploying tear gas and other crowd control measures to maintain order.
A protester places debris in a fire as Border Patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stand guard outside an industrial park in Paramount, Calif., June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
“During the crowd control situation, numerous less-lethal munitions were used,” the LAPD said.
Authorities have battled protesters hurling projectiles, setting fire to cars and launching fireworks at police officers in response to the ICE raids, and 10 members of law enforcement reported injuries as of Monday, according to the LAPD.
Of the most violent offenses, an illegal immigrant from Mexico was charged with attempted murder last week after authorities say he threw a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AT OFFICERS IN LA RIOTS: DHS
Hundreds of protesters, demanding that ICE raids on workplaces stop immediately, clash with police June 8, 2025, as the Trump administration continues its immigration raids in Los Angeles. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Emiliano Garduno-Galvez is a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who threatened the lives of federal law enforcement officers by attacking them with a Molotov cocktail during the violent riots in Los Angeles,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously said in a statement. “ICE arrested Garduno-Galvez, and he is now being charged with attempted murder. These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect.”
The LA District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
