A Compton man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for throwing rocks at ICE vehicles during unrest in Los Angeles last year.
Elpidio Reyna, 42, was recorded on video in June hurling large pieces of concrete at federal government vehicles near a Home Depot in Paramount, authorities said.
“Disagreeing with laws passed by Congress does not give you a right to assault federal officers,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.
“This defendant thought he would go unpunished for throwing large rocks at law enforcement. Instead, he’ll be serving time in federal prison, where he can reflect on his poor decision.”
The confrontation unfolded as agents were preparing an operation near the Home Depot. Prosecutors said Reyna and other protesters began setting objects on fire and throwing rocks toward ICE and law enforcement vehicles.
One rock thrown by Reyna shattered glass and left an officer with a cut to the forehead, according to officials.
After law enforcement released images of him, Reyna fled to Mexico. He was later placed on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list and was ultimately arrested by Mexican authorities before agreeing to surrender to the FBI.
Reyna pleaded guilty on February 17 to one felony count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury. He has remained in federal custody since July 2025.
In a separate case tied to the same riot, Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 31, was sentenced in July to 10 months in jail for throwing pieces of cinderblock. One of the rocks struck a Border Patrol agent in the leg, causing him to bleed.
Another man, 25, was sentenced in June to 30 months behind bars after hitting an officer in the head with a rock at an ICE office in Portland.
