Los Angeles, CA — As the sun sets each night over Los Angeles, the streets in some neighborhoods have transformed into battlegrounds. What began as demonstrations has, in many cases, devolved into chaos—fires, smashed windshields, thrown explosives, and clashes with law enforcement.

Now, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is stepping in with forceful legal action, filing federal charges against individuals accused of fueling the violence that has roiled the city for more than two weeks straight.

In a decisive move earlier this week, Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, announced that the federal government is pursuing criminal charges against a man captured on video distributing riot gear—specifically heavy-duty face shields—to demonstrators on the most volatile night of unrest, June 9.

Federal Charges Follow Damning Video Footage
The spark for this latest wave of federal enforcement came from a telling video aired by a local Fox affiliate. The footage shows a black pickup truck stopping in the middle of a street as a man unloads boxes filled with face shields and hands them to individuals gathered nearby—many of whom later participated in violent acts, authorities say.

Fox Los Angeles reporter Matthew Seedorff, who was on the scene, observed what appeared to be strategic preparation.

“No, those are masks,” Seedorff noted live on-air, “So people are prepping for some sort of altercation with police as we speak. You probably don’t put on a mask unless you have a plan of not wanting somebody to see your face.”

His words would soon take on added weight.

FBI Arrests Suspect in Coordinated Gear Drop
Just days later, on June 12, federal agents arrested Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, the alleged driver of the black pickup truck. Orellana now faces federal charges of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders under Title 18, United States Code, Section 371—a statute designed to penalize those who work together to incite violence or interfere with law enforcement.

“We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” U.S. Attorney Essayli stated in a press conference. The arrest, he emphasized, is just the beginning of a broader effort to hold accountable not only those who committed violence but also those who helped enable it behind the scenes.

Another Man Faces Arson, Assault Charges After Freeway Attack
The federal crackdown didn’t stop there.

In a separate but equally disturbing incident, prosecutors revealed charges against Adam Palermo, 39, who is accused of launching attacks on law enforcement during the same chaotic period. Authorities allege that Palermo hurled rocks and incendiary devices at police officers and California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles on U.S. Route 101, one of Southern California’s busiest freeways.

According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Palermo is facing multiple felony charges—including four counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, one count of arson, and one count of felony vandalism.

Officials say Palermo stood on an overpass and threw a large rock onto a CHP cruiser on June 8 around 7 p.m., damaging the vehicle. In a more serious allegation, he reportedly ignited an object—possibly a Molotov cocktail—and tossed it onto a CHP SUV, which then caught fire on the freeway.

U.S. Attorney Essayli confirmed Palermo will also face federal charges stemming from the violent freeway assault. Authorities say Palermo later posted photos online of the burning vehicles, bragging in the caption:

“All of the protests I’ve been involved in, which is well over 100 now, I’m most proud of what I did today.”

For prosecutors and federal investigators, that post served as a self-incriminating digital fingerprint—a bold and public admission of guilt.

A Battle Over Priorities: Politicians, Public React to Federal Response
While federal authorities move swiftly to identify and prosecute those inciting violence, California’s political leadership has taken a different tone—criticizing the federal government’s involvement and, notably, the $134 million cost of deploying troops to help control the situation.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom took to social media to express their disapproval.

“Just an absolutely shameful use of taxpayer dollars that could be used to actually HELP people,” Mayor Bass posted on X.

Governor Newsom echoed the frustration, writing:

“$134 million that should be going to LA’s fire recovery. Shameful.”

But those comments sparked a firestorm of backlash online, particularly from conservative figures and critics who argue that California has long prioritized illegal immigration over its own citizens’ welfare.

Stephen Miller, former White House policy advisor and current deputy chief of staff, clapped back:

“Wait till you find out how many trillions we have to spend on illegal aliens.”

Andrew Clark, a political strategist, followed up with another jab:

“Now do the $9 billion you drained out of our state treasury to fund your free healthcare for illegal immigrants scheme.”

Robby Starbuck, a conservative filmmaker and activist, added:

“How many billions have you spent on illegals, Gavin? It’s well into the hundreds of billions. THAT money should have gone to your citizens and fire recovery but you gave it to illegals.”

A Deeper Cost: Billions in Public Resources Spent Annually
While the $134 million used for troop deployment may seem high, new studies reviewed by Fox News Digital paint a more staggering picture. The data suggests that California spends tens of billions of taxpayer dollars annually on services for illegal immigrants—including housing, education, and healthcare.

That figure far surpasses the temporary cost of deploying National Guard troops and federal agents to manage violent unrest. For many taxpayers, especially those already grappling with high living costs, homelessness in their communities, and wildfire recovery efforts, it raises a painful question: Where are our priorities?

The Federal Government Signals Zero Tolerance
For the DOJ and FBI, these recent arrests are part of a broader message: federal law enforcement will not stand by while major cities descend into lawlessness.

“These are not peaceful protests,” said one law enforcement official familiar with the investigations. “These are coordinated attacks against public safety, and people are going to be held accountable—whether they’re throwing rocks or handing out gear in the shadows.”

As federal authorities continue their investigation, more arrests are expected. Officials say they’re using a combination of street surveillance, drone footage, social media monitoring, and eyewitness testimony to build airtight cases against organizers and participants alike.

For residents of Los Angeles, many of whom have spent weeks living with uncertainty, street closures, and fear, there’s hope that justice is finally on the way—and that the city can begin to recover from the deep scars left by this wave of unrest.