10 Arrested on Federal Complaints Charging Them with Committing Violence Against Officers and Property During Anti-ICE Rioting

LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement has arrested a total of 10 defendants federally charged in three criminal complaints with engaging in violence and civil disorder against law enforcement officers and property during immigration enforcement actions in Southern California earlier this year, the Justice Department announced today.

Ten defendants are in federal custody. One defendant is in state custody and is expected to be handed over to federal authorities. One defendant is a fugitive. All 12 defendants are charged with federal crimes alleging they committed violence against law enforcement authorities and property.

“There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “During the summer we warned the public that anyone who engages in any violence will eventually be brought to justice. Today we are delivering on that promise and will continue to hold those who violated the law accountable.”        

“Acts of violence against the brave law enforcement officers who protect us are an attack on civilized society itself,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “As today’s arrests and charges illustrate, anyone who engages in such disgusting conduct will face severe consequences from this Department of Justice.”

“While the Constitution protects the freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceably assemble, it does not provide for the freedom to assault federal officers, impede or obstruct federal officers or conspire to do so, or destroy government property,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “We will vigorously protect the rights to free speech and free and peaceful assembly, but we will also, without fear or favor, deliver consequences and bring accountability to those criminals that violate federal law.”

“The FBI safeguards civil rights and the right to protest peacefully, but there is no place in a civilized society for violence targeted at law enforcement, nor the destruction of government property,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Our agents and police partners are carrying out their duties lawfully and should be able to do so without violent interference. I urge anyone with information about these unidentified subjects wanted for civil disorder and arson to come forward to assist us and claim the reward of up to $10,000.”

“Violence has no place in our society,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division. “Peaceful protest is a right; assault is a crime. The ATF will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who serve and protect our communities can do so safely.”

        United States v. Reyes, et al.

Virginia Reyes, 32, and Isai Carrillo, 31, both of Oxnard, are charged via complaint with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, a felony that is punishable by up to five years in federal prison.

Carrillo, who was arrested today, is expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Reyes is considered a fugitive.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 10 executed several search warrants – predicated on violations of federal immigration laws – at locations, including the Glass House Farms in Camarillo. Before the enforcement operations began, agents determined that the operation had been compromised earlier than expected because of social media posts.

During the operation, numerous protesters – some of them were members or associates of “VC Defensa,” a volunteer group whose members follow, chase, agitate, and impede federal agents enforcing immigration laws – arrived in and around the area of the Glass House Farms. VC Defensa “Rapid Response Network” members also conduct surveillance of DHS office buildings and alert the community to the presence of federal agents within their neighborhoods.

During the Glass House Farms enforcement operation, protesters, including VC Defensa members, built a roadblock using farm equipment at the primary entrance and exit to the Glass House Farms. Due to the roadblock, federal law enforcement vehicles used an alternate exit via a dirt service road to leave the location. Government vehicles that exited the Glass House Farms and traveled south on this road were stopped by protestors, including individuals throwing rocks at the vehicles.

When additional Government vehicles attempted to exit this road and travel north, protesters, including VC Defensa members, created a chokepoint and ambush of the vehicles. Specifically, at least two vehicles and several individuals, including one with a bicycle, attempted to block the government vehicles from exiting. Meanwhile, other individuals threw large rocks at the vehicles. During the incident, at least four government vehicles were damaged and at least one federal contract employee sustained injuries.

Law enforcement learned that at least 10 individuals acted together to impede and assault federal officers and damage government property. Reyes was present for the roadblock’s construction and drove her vehicle to the ambush location to impede government vehicles. Meanwhile, Carrillo and others threw rocks at the government vehicles, causing damage to them, and injuring a federal contract employee.

        United States v. Coreas, et al.

The following defendants are charged in one complaint with obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, stemming from violence against California Highway Patrol officers in downtown Los Angeles’ Civic Center on June 8. This charge, a felony, carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison:

• Ronald Alexis Coreas, 23, of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles;
• Junior Roldan, 27, of Hollywood;
• Elmore Sylvester Cage, 34, of Downtown Los Angeles;
• Balto Montion, 24, of Watsonville;
• Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 22, of Las Vegas;
• Hector Daniel Ramos, 66, of Alhambra;
• Stefano Deong Green, 34, of Westmont;
• Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights; and
• Ismael Vega, 41, of Westlake.

Coreas, Roldan, Cage, Ramos, Green, Flores, and Vega are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S District Court in Los Angeles. Hernandez was arrested today and is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. Montion is in state custody and is expected to be handed over to federal authorities in the coming weeks.

According to an affidavit filed with the Coreas complaint, federal law enforcement officials began conducting immigration enforcement operations throughout the Los Angeles area on June 6. During and following those operations, protests erupted in and around downtown Los Angeles. While many demonstrators peacefully exercised their First Amendment rights to protest, some individuals violently obstructed, impeded, or interfered with law enforcement officers.

Specifically, on June 8, thousands of demonstrators assembled in downtown Los Angeles’s Civic Center to protest the ongoing enforcement of federal immigration laws. Some protesters engaged in violence against officers – resulting in some injuries to the officers – and against public and private property. Federal buildings were vandalized with graffiti and law enforcement vehicles were damaged by protestors wielding blunt objects. Los Angeles police ultimately declared an unlawful assembly.

Protesters then walked onto U.S. Highway 101 in downtown Los Angeles and blocked all traffic lanes. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers responded to that location in patrol vehicles, pushed the protesters off the freeway, and remained there to prevent the protesters from re-entering. By remaining on the freeway, the CHP officers and their vehicles were positioned under and between the overpasses for Main and Los Angeles streets on the 101 Freeway.

As the CHP officers stood on the freeway, crowds gathered on the overpasses. At some point thereafter, individual protesters began throwing rocks, electric scooters, street signs, and various other objects at the CHP officers below. At one point, a protester poured a clear yellow liquid onto a CHP car that was ablaze, after which the flames immediately grew in size.   

The defendants charged in the Coreas complaint were filmed and photographed throwing rocks and other objects at officers and the patrol cars.

         United States v. Canil

Yovany Marcario Canil, 22, a.k.a. “Geovani Macario,” and “Yovany Canil Canil,” of Boyle Heights, was arrested Tuesday on a federal complaint charging him with assault on a federal officer, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison.

He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on June 6, hundreds of demonstrators protesting immigration law enforcement gathered in front of an Ambiance Apparel warehouse in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles. As federal government vehicles were leaving the area, Yovany Marcario Canil pepper-sprayed into one of the vehicles that was occupied by three members of the FBI’s SWAT. At that time, the passenger side windows were opened to manage crowd control. The pepper spray affected at least two members of FBI SWAT with a burning sensation as their faces turned orange.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are investigating these matters.

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Kibbe of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting the Reyes case. Assistant United States Attorneys Neil P. Thakor and Rahul R.A. Hari of the General Crimes Section and Jenna Long of the National Security Division are prosecuting the Coreas case. The General Crimes Section is prosecuting the Canil case.

The FBI is seeking the following individuals in connection with violence against people and property related to anti-immigration enforcement protests earlier this year:

         https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/civil-disorder-1

         https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/civil-disorder-2

         https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/arson