The FBI arrested the man who went viral last week for distributing what appeared to be military-grade “bionic shield” face masks to violent demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles.
“ARRESTED: Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was arrested this morning by FBI Los Angeles on an allegation of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders (18 USC 371) for distributing face shields to suspected rioters on Tuesday. We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said in a statement.
ARRESTED: Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was arrested this morning by @FBILosAngeles on an allegation of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders (18 USC 371) for distributing face shields to suspected rioters on Tuesday. We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in… pic.twitter.com/Ase8kxupfp
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) June 12, 2025
The suspect has been identified as Alejandro Orellana, an alleged member of the Brown Berets, a radical Chicano nationalist paramilitary organization with ties to far-left revolutionary groups.
The group, long known for its anti-police rhetoric and militant activism, has reportedly embedded operatives in several major U.S. cities.
On June 9, local reporter Elex Michaelson of FOX LA captured the moment protesters swarmed the trucks to grab the gear, noting, “It certainly seems like gear you’d wear if you’re preparing for conflict with police. Who is funding this?”
#BREAKING We just saw people arrive in Downtown L.A. with truck loads of Bionic Face Shields that demonstrators quickly grabbed.
It certainly seems like gear you’d wear if you’re preparing for conflict with police.
Who is funding this? pic.twitter.com/2hZphafOsi
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) June 10, 2025
Footage from June 9 showed Alejandro Theodoro Orellana arriving in Downtown L.A. with loads of “Bionic Face Shields” — high-impact gear that some experts say mirrors riot control equipment used by law enforcement and military.
ICYMI: Here’s the moment a pickup truck dropped off boxes of face shields in downtown LA during our live report on @FOXLA with @Elex_Michaelson and @DevineNews pic.twitter.com/4JZYE69dMg
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) June 10, 2025
This is a developing story.
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