On Tuesday, the US Department of Justice announced that 41-year-old Elpidio Reyna has admitted to a serious felony charge of assaulting federal officials with a deadly or dangerous weapon during protests in Los Angeles, resulting in bodily harm. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
Reyna was a masked man previously wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to the plea agreement, on June 7, 2025, he threw stones at federal law enforcement vehicles in Paramount, injuring one officer and damaging government vehicles.
At the time of the incident, violent protests against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were erupting in the Los Angeles area, with frequent attacks on police and federal officers, vandalism of businesses, and destruction of public facilities. Reyna was one of the perpetrators during this period.
Due to his masked crimes, the FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest, encouraging the public to provide tips. Reyna was apprehended on July 23 at the San Ysidro entry port on the US-Mexico border in San Diego County and has been detained since then.
Bill Essayli, the Chief Federal Prosecutor for the Central District of California, stated that the defendant’s actions put federal officials or innocent bystanders at risk.
“Violent attacks on law enforcement officers are not protected by the Constitution and will instead be swiftly met with legal consequences. Anyone engaging in such violent acts will be arrested, prosecuted, and ultimately convicted in court,” he said.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 7th in the United States District Court, where Reyna will face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.