A man who injured a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent by hurling rocks through a vehicle window during last summer’s violent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles County has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer.
On Tuesday, 41-year-old Elpidio Reyna admitted to one count of assault with a deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury.
He was among dozens arrested after riots erupted when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area.
Federal prosecutors emphasized the severity of the attack.
In a statement, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said:
“This defendant could have easily killed a federal officer or innocent bystander.
“As he found out the hard way, violence against law enforcement is not constitutionally protected and will be met with swift justice.
“Those who engage in similar violence will be arrested, charged, and eventually convicted in a court of law.”
Violent Riot Targeted Federal Officers
According to court documents, Reyna joined a crowd on June 7, 2025, near a Home Depot in Paramount, roughly 11 miles north of Long Beach.
During the rioting, violent rioters threw rocks and improvised explosives at federal officers.
The plea agreement states:
“Protestors, including the defendant, began to throw rocks at the officers’ official vehicles, lit objects on fire, and impeded law enforcement activity.
“During this, defendant knowingly and intentionally lit objects on fire in the middle of the street and threw rocks at a convoy of law enforcement vehicles occupied by Customs and Border Protection Officers.”
One projectile shattered a vehicle window and cut a CBP officer on the forehead.
Justice Department video shows Reyna pelting law-enforcement vehicles with rocks and chunks of concrete while wearing a motorcycle helmet.
FBI Manhunt Ended at the Border
The FBI later placed Reyna on its most-wanted list.
Authorities launched a manhunt and offered a $50,000 reward after a special agent identified Reyna through TikTok footage.
ARRESTED: Elpidio Reyna surrendered today at the U.S.-Mexico border to face a felony charge of assault on a federal officer for throwing rocks at passing law enforcement vehicles in Paramount on June 7.
He was taken into custody by a U.S. Border Patrol officer who was inside… pic.twitter.com/9ExZPnEAPT
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) July 23, 2025
He ultimately surrendered at the U.S.–Mexico border on July 23 and has remained in federal custody since July 2025.
Reyna now faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 7 by U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha.
Wider Unrest Prompted National Guard Deployment
Dozens of arrests were made during June and July unrest across Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The riots were tied to federal immigration enforcement operations.
The violence prompted President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property, triggering a prolonged legal clash with California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom over the troop deployment.
The guilty plea marks another federal conviction tied to the riots that targeted immigration enforcement and the officers carrying out the law.
READ MORE – Anti-ICE Leftist Melts Down When Arrested: ‘I Want My Mommy!’
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