The FBI has arrested a man accused of “Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders ... for distributing face shields to suspected rioters,” according to Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
On June 12, agents from the FBI’s Los Angeles office arrested Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, who was allegedly seen handing out the shields on June 10, Essayli
announced on social media.
“We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” he wrote.
Essayli’s post included a link to live footage from Fox 11 Los Angeles, which zoomed in on a box of equipment branded as a “Bionic Shield” being handed out. Those face shields are available for sale on Amazon at prices ranging from about $30 to $55,
offering features such as “built-in chin protection and extended top-of-head coverage; protects against falling or flying objects, impacts, chemical splashes and airborne debris.”
Alongside the video, Essayli posted a photo of the suspect seated in a vehicle. Orellana was dressed in camouflage-patterned pants and a dark shirt, with his hands appearing to be restrained behind his back.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino responded to Orellana’s arrest by
writing on social media: “He chose poorly. Choose wisely.”
The post gave no further details. However, Essayli
told Fox 11 that Orellana’s capture was a “key arrest” in the federal investigation of the riots that began on June 6 following a multiagency investigation that led to 44 arrests of illegal aliens, many of whom had prior criminal records.
“We have made it a huge priority to identify, locate and arrest those who are involved in organizing, supporting, funding or facilitating these riots,” Essayli said.
The disturbances seem to be “well-orchestrated” and “well-funded,” he said, “so we want to understand who these people are, and where this organization is coming from.”
The protests have spread to additional U.S. cities, resulting in dozens more arrests as demonstrators assaulted police.
President Donald Trump, whom California Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have opposed for deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles
on June 7, said the National Guard’s presence has helped to restore order.
“Los Angeles was safe and sound for the last two nights,” the president
wrote on Truth Social on June 12. “Our great National Guard, with a little help from the Marines, put the L.A. Police in a position to effectively do their job. They all worked well together, but without the Military, Los Angeles would be a crime scene like we haven’t seen in years.”
Trump said that Newsom “had totally lost control of the situation” and should be thankful for the assistance rendered.
Protests spread to other U.S. cities on June 11, including Chicago and New York. More demonstrations
are planned on June 14 nationwide for an event billed as “No Kings Day of Defiance,” in opposition to Trump’s military parade and Flag Day celebration in Washington, which coincides with his 79th birthday. The No Kings group says it is committed to nonviolent demonstrations.
