Saturday, June 14, 2025

East LA man charged for allegedly distributing face masks at immigration protest

An East Los Angeles man charged with allegedly distributing so-called “bionic shield” face masks to demonstrators during an immigration protest made his initial appearance Friday in federal court and was ordered released on $5,000 bond.

Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, 29, was also ordered by a magistrate judge to not come within 100 yards of federal agents or buildings — except for court appearances and meetings with his legal counsel, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Orellana’s arraignment is scheduled for July 3 in downtown Los Angeles.

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He is charged with conspiracy to commit disorders, and aiding and abetting civil disorders. The maximum sentence he would face if convicted would be five years in federal prison for each charge, prosecutors said.

Orellana was arrested Thursday for allegedly “distributing face shields to suspected rioters” on June 11, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.

Community organization Centro CSO contends his arrest was “political repression” due to Orellana’s pro-immigrant-rights activism.

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