A man who allegedly handed protective gear to rioters during the Los Angeles anti-ICE protests last month was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday.
The Department of Justice charged Alejandro Orellana, 29, with conspiracy to aid and abet civil disorder after distributing face shields, masks, water bottles, and other items to rioters in a viral on-camera moment. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison for the charges.
Recommended Stories
- Coast Guard intercepts more than $20 million of marijuana and cocaine
- Who loses legal status if Trump's birthright citizenship and deportation agenda succeeds?
- Mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia details beatings and psychological torture in Salvadoran prison
Orellana allegedly loaded a pickup truck with the supplies on June 9, according to the indictment. The protective gear was used to help rioters withstand rubber bullets, tear gas, and other nonlethal munitions deployed by law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California, who is prosecuting the federal cases against people who unlawfully interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, argued Orellana was charged because he handed supplies to violent rioters specifically.
“He wasn’t handing masks out at the beach,” Essayli said. “They’re covering their faces. They’re wearing backpacks. These weren’t peaceful protesters.”
“They weren’t holding up signs with a political message. They came to do violence,” he added.
Federal prosecutors classify anyone who stays at a protest site after authorities declare unlawful assembly as a rioter.
Local activist group Centro CSO, of which Orellana is a member, disputed the charges against the defendant and insisted that protesting is not a crime. The group is holding protests on Thursday and Saturday, demanding that the charges be dropped.
“An attack on one of us, is an attack on the people’s movement!” Centro CSO’s slogan states.
Over 40 people have been charged with protest-related crimes by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and independent.
LA LEGAL GROUPS ACCUSE ICE OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE WITH ‘BROWN SKIN’ IN LAWSUIT
A Marine veteran, Orellana works for UPS and has no criminal record.
His arraignment was scheduled for Thursday morning.