NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
Federal authorities have made a key arrest in connection with the recent wave of violent protests that have shaken Los Angeles. Early this morning, agents from the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office apprehended Alejandro Theodoro Orellana on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders, a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 371.
Orellana is accused of distributing face shields to individuals participating in a protest that escalated into a riot earlier this week. Law enforcement officials say the protective gear was not being handed out for peaceful purposes, but rather to enable confrontational actions against law enforcement officers during anti-ICE demonstrations.
This arrest marks a significant shift in the federal response to civil unrest, signaling that authorities are now moving beyond arresting front-line rioters and are instead focusing on the individuals and networks responsible for organizing, supplying, and enabling the violence behind the scenes.
Sources familiar with the investigation say that Orellana may be connected to a broader group that facilitated the logistics of the riots, including the provision of protest gear and coordination of movements via encrypted communication apps. While those claims have not yet been confirmed in court, federal agents are reportedly expanding their inquiry to identify other individuals playing similar roles.
The recent demonstrations, originally organized to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles, quickly spiraled into confrontations with law enforcement. Videos from the scene show groups of masked individuals wielding improvised shields, launching objects at officers, and blocking access to federal buildings. The protests left several officers injured and resulted in substantial property damage.
Federal prosecutors argue that the presence of coordinated supplies, including protective equipment like face shields, points to pre-meditated efforts to disrupt public order, not spontaneous demonstrations.
The Department of Justice is now making it clear that those who aid and abet violent unrest—whether by funding, planning, or equipping it—will be treated as criminal participants. The arrest of Orellana is expected to be the first in a series of targeted efforts aimed at dismantling the infrastructure behind organized riots.
Legal proceedings for Orellana are expected to begin within days, as investigators continue to collect evidence and determine the full scope of his involvement.
PLAY:
