Politics
‘Only A Matter Of Time’: Bongino Issues Urgent Warning To Violent Rioters
The identities of masked rioters in Los Angeles are starting to be uncovered, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on Tuesday.
Some of the masked culprits, caught on camera throwing rocks, cinderblocks, and other items at immigration officers during the Los Angeles immigration riots, now have names and faces associated with their activities. It’s only a matter of time before they are arrested, Bongino stated.
“Turn yourself in. It’s only a matter of time,” he wrote online. “I promise.”
Shared alongside Bongino’s statement was an image of Elpidio Reyna, 40, of Compton, CA, who is wanted for allegedly assaulting a federal officer during Saturday’s riots in Paramount.
“SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS,” the flyer claims.
A reward of $50,000 is being offered by the FBI for any tip leading to Reyna’s arrest and conviction.
Reyna is just one of several men being hunted down by the Trump administration for allegedly hurling cinder blocks, electric scooters, and other dangerous items at federal officers as they completed immigration raids around Los Angeles last Friday. The operation quickly drew protestors who became violent, causing President Donald Trump to activate thousands of California’s National Guard officers to keep the peace.
Bongino’s statement comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi declared on Monday that some of the suspects have already been identified.
“That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house as we speak,” Bondi told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “His name is Reyes. He is going to be on the most wanted list.”
US Attorney Bill Essayli later clarified that the man Bondi spoke about is Reyna.
“WANTED: Elpidio Reyna can run, but he can’t hide. He threw rocks at federal officers leaving a command post in Paramount on Saturday, a brazen attack caught on film and that could have resulted in deaths,” Essayli, the top prosecutor in the Central District of California, wrote on X.
The U.S. attorney added that assaulting a federal officer carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison if convicted, the NY Post reported.
A spokesperson for the FBI told the outlet that Reyna is not yet in custody.
“We’re actively seeking his whereabouts,” the spokesperson confirmed. “Our investigation is ongoing.”
More than 1,000 rioters have taken to the streets since Saturday, clashing with cops and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in violent confrontations caught on video. Reyna is just one of the men wanted for allegedly jeopardizing the lives of the immigration officers sent to arrest about 150 suspected illegal immigrants.
“The guy was breaking up the cinder blocks, and he was throwing them,” Bondi said about Reyna. “He has been identified by great police work by the FBI. So you can run. You can’t hide. We are coming after you, federally.”
On Monday, President Trump announced that another 700 Marines will be sent to the City of Angels to support the work of the National Guard. Shortly afterward, he announced that the number of Guard officers would be doubled to 4,000.
