The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that officials arrested ten defendants on federal charges of violence against law enforcement, including two from a chaotic anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riot in Southern California.
Beginning in June, anti-ICE riots broke out across California as federal officials ramped up deportation efforts. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, ten defendants are in federal custody, while one awaits transfer to federal authorities and another is listed as a fugitive.
“There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. “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.”
Among the suspects, two were identified as Virginia Reyes, 32, and Isai Carrillo, 31, both from Oxnard, California. They were charged with “conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.” According to officials, the complaint stems from a July 10 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation that included search warrants at several locations, including Glass House Farms in Camarillo, California.
During the operation, a group of protesters — some allegedly members or associates of a local activist organization known as “VC Defensa” — followed, chased, agitated, and impeded federal agents arriving at and around the farm, officials said.
“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,” the press release states. “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.”
When federal agents attempted to leave the location, protesters, including members of VC Defensa, allegedly “created a chokepoint and ambush of the vehicles” and attempted to block at least two federal cars.
“During the incident, at least four government vehicles were damaged and at least one federal contract employee sustained injuries,” the press release adds. “Law enforcement learned that at least 10 individuals acted together to impede and assault federal officers and damage government property.”
Reyes, who is being considered a fugitive, was allegedly present during the roadblock, while Carrillo and others allegedly threw rocks at government vehicles, injuring a federal contractor.
The remaining suspects were charged with “obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder,” during a June 8 incident involving California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in downtown Los Angeles.
The suspects include Ronald Alexis Coreas, 23; Junior Roldan, 27; Elmore Sylvester Cage, 34; Balto Montion, 24; Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 22; Hector Daniel Ramos, 66; Stefano Deong Green, 34; Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23; and Ismael Vega, 41.
According to officials, during the June 8 protest, which involved thousands of demonstrators, some participants allegedly “engaged in violence against officers – resulting in some injuries to the officers – and against public and private property.”
Protesters eventually blocked all lanes of U.S. Highway 101. CHP officers pushed demonstrators off the freeway and remained on the scene to prevent further traffic disruptions.
“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 press release stated.
The final suspect, Yovany Marcario Canil, 22, was charged with assaulting a federal officer during a June 6 protest outside an apparel warehouse in downtown Los Angeles.
As federal vehicles were leaving the area, Canil allegedly pepper-sprayed one of the vehicles, which was occupied by three FBI SWAT members. Officials stated that with the passenger window open, the pepper spray “affected at least two members of FBI SWAT, causing a burning sensation as their faces turned orange.”
The penalty for the 12 suspects ranges from a maximum sentence of five to eight years in federal prison.
The VC Defensa group did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment.
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