The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dramatically ramped up prosecutions stemming from anti-deportation riots in central California that erupted in June, a local federal prosecutor said Wednesday.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, a President Donald Trump appointee, said in a X post that his office has charged 53 people with “assaults on [federal] agents or interference with immigration enforcement” since rioters began setting fires and assaulting law enforcement in Los Angeles in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The number represents a large jump from June 17, when Essayli said his team had charged “more than 20” defendants.
There’s a lot of misinformation going around about the great work being done by our amazing federal prosecutors here in the Central District of California.
Here are the facts regarding criminal cases we filed for assaults on agents or interference with immigration enforcement…
— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) July 30, 2025
Nine cases have proceeded to a grand jury indictment, seven others waived an indictment and four have pleaded guilty, Essayli said. Seven others have been dismissed with a chance to be refiled, while 26 others “are making their way through the court process and are at various stages,” he said.
The acting U.S. attorney, who took office in April, gave the updates to counter what he called “misinformation going around about the great work being done by our amazing federal prosecutors.” Legacy media outlets reported in recent weeks that some of the cases lacked evidence or were failing to pass muster in court.
“It’s not uncommon for a complaint to be dismissed so that law enforcement can conduct additional investigation and collect more evidence,” Essayli added.
The widespread rioting kicked off in Los Angeles on June 6 after a local union leader was arrested for allegedly trying to obstruct ICE agents transporting migrants. Left-wing activists then took to social media to urge supporters of illegal immigrants to gather at a federal building, and hundreds showed up for a protest that escalated into violence and vandalism.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has estimated about $1 billion in damages to Los Angeles from the riots, which lasted several days. Federal law enforcement has been “tracing money” connected to the violence for possible prosecutions, Essayli and other officials said in June.
“A lot more to come,” Essayli said Wednesday regarding his team’s work. “Stay tuned.”
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