The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated federal prosecutions against individuals linked to recent riots in Los Angeles, which have continued nightly for over two weeks. A particularly violent episode on June 9 was captured on video, showing a man distributing heavy-duty face shields—likely to help conceal identities—out of a black pickup truck. Fox Los Angeles reporter Matthew Seedorff identified the gear as intended for confrontations with police. On June 12, FBI agents arrested Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, the alleged driver of the truck, charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders under 18 U.S.C. § 371. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, sharing the news on X, highlighted the DOJ’s commitment to holding organizers of the violence accountable.

In a separate but related incident, 39-year-old Adam Palermo is facing both federal and state charges stemming from the same night of unrest. According to prosecutors, Palermo assaulted law enforcement by hurling rocks and incendiary devices, and set fire to a California Highway Patrol SUV after tossing a burning object onto it. Palermo allegedly shared videos and photos of his actions on social media, celebrating the destruction. He has been charged with multiple felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon, arson, and vandalism. These prosecutions mark a coordinated federal effort to curb escalating violence in Los Angeles and reinforce consequences for those inciting or participating in civil unrest.