By Derek VanBuskirk, Daily Caller News Foundation | October 29, 2025
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest Wednesday of 10 defendants accused of committing violence against law enforcement and property during anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations in Southern California earlier this year.
The incidents are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to a DOJ statement.
“There is zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in the release. “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.”
Prosecutors charged Oxnard residents Virginia Reyes, 32, and Isai Carrillo, 31, with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer. They face as much as five years behind bars if convicted. Authorities apprehended Carrillo today while Reyes was alleged to be a fugitive from the law.
In July, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents preparing to execute several search warrants discovered the operation had been compromised by social media posts, according to an affidavit. Protesters — alerted through networks monitoring DHS offices — gathered near the site, where they constructed a roadblock with farm equipment, authorities alleged.
Federal officers attempted to leave via a dirt service road but were allegedly met with protestors, including people lobbing rocks at their vehicles, the DOJ said. When agents tried an alternate route, they encountered a “chokepoint and ambush,” according to the affidavit. At least four government vehicles suffered damage while at least one government contractor was hurt, authorities said.
Reyes allegedly drove her vehicle to the site to block federal vehicles while Carrillo allegedly joined others in throwing rocks.
Nine additional defendants were charged with obstructing, impeding or interfering with law enforcement during a separate June civil disorder in downtown Los Angeles. The accused were 23-year-old Ronald Alexis Coreas, 27-year-old Junior Roldan, 34-year-old Elmore Sylvester Cage, 24-year-old Balto Montion, 22-year-old Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 66 year-old Hector Daniel Ramso, 34-year-old Stefano Deong Green, 23-year-old Yachua Mauricio Flores and 41-year-old Ismael Vega.
Coreas, Flores, Roldan, Cage, Ramos, Green and Vega were expected to be before a judge Wednesday while Hernandez was taken into custody the same day. Montion remains in the custody of state authorities and the DOJ anticipates that he will be turned over to federal authorities.
While most demonstrators exercised their First Amendment rights peacefully, some allegedly assaulted, obstructed or impeded officers, according to an affidavit in Coreas’ filing. This allegedly included injuring officers and attacking public and private property.
After the Los Angeles Police Department declared the protest an unlawful assembly, demonstrators allegedly moved onto a nearby highway and blocked traffic. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers later cleared the freeway and demonstrators assembled on overpasses, authorities said. People allegedly hurled objects including rocks, electric scooters and street signs at CHP officers and a CHP vehicle caught fire.
The DOJ said the suspects were identified through photos and video recordings.
“While the Constitution protects the freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceably assemble, it does not provide for the freedom to assault federal officers, impede or obstruct federal officers or conspire to do so, or destroy government property,” said Eddy Wang, HSI’s Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles. “We will vigorously protect the rights to free speech and free and peaceful assembly, but we will also, without fear or favor, deliver consequences and bring accountability to those criminals that violate federal law.”
Additionally, 22-year-old Yovany Marcario Canil was arrested Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a federal officer. Canil pepper-sprayed into a government vehicle carrying three members of the FBI’s SWAT team as it departed Los Angeles’ Fashion District in June, according to an affidavit. The windows on the passenger side of the vehicle were open for crowd control purposes and at least two of the SWAT members allegedly suffered a burning sensation and color changes to their faces.
If convicted, Canil faces up to eight years in federal prison.
“The FBI safeguards civil rights and the right to protest peacefully, but there is no place in a civilized society for violence targeted at law enforcement, nor the destruction of government property,” Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office Akil Davis said. “Our agents and police partners are carrying out their duties lawfully and should be able to do so without violent interference.”
Derek VanBuskirk is a reporter at the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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