DOJ To File Charges On Those Arrested At Protest
The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a wave of federal charges targeting violent rioters in Los Angeles, sending a strong message that violence against federal officers and destruction of federal property will not be tolerated—especially in jurisdictions where local enforcement has failed to act decisively.
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California announced charges against two individuals involved in last Saturday’s violent unrest in Paramount. Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, and Wrackkie Quiogue, 27, are both facing federal prosecution for possessing and deploying destructive devices.
Galvez allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies, while Quiogue was apprehended downtown by LAPD while preparing to hurl a similar device. If convicted, both face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Essayli’s office emphasized the need for federal intervention, citing the lax enforcement environment in cities like Los Angeles where repeat offenders often walk free within hours due to depleted police ranks and overcapacity jails. “We will prosecute these cases vigorously on behalf of the American people,” he wrote on X.
In a Newsmax interview, Essayli noted the alarming decline in policing resources in Democrat-led cities. “They’ve totally gutted law enforcement and the jails, they have no capacity in their jails. So all these quote unquote arrests you’re seeing, they’re not even going to jail. They’re being given a ticket, they’re cited and released because they have no room in a jail because they refuse to add space to the jail” he said.
His office is now preparing additional federal charges against more rioters tied to explosive devices, violent assemblies, and looting incidents.
The FBI is actively pursuing another suspect, Elpidio Reyna, wanted for nearly killing federal agents by throwing a rock at a moving ICE vehicle during the Paramount unrest.
A search warrant was executed at Reyna’s residence, and a $50,000 reward has been issued for information leading to his capture. According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Reyna is being placed on the federal Most Wanted list.
“You can run, you can’t hide,” Bondi told Fox News. “We are coming after you federally. If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on police officers, we’re coming after you.”