Alejandro Theodoro Orellana caught on camera distributing $60 ‘bionic shield’ face masks from Ford F-150 as anti-ICE riots engulfed downtown Los Angeles
The masked menace who sparked nationwide outrage by handing out military-grade riot gear to violent protesters in Los Angeles has been arrested by the FBI in a dramatic dawn raid.
Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was taken into custody Thursday morning on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders after shocking footage showed him distributing high-tech face shields to rioters from the back of a pickup truck during Tuesday’s anti-ICE protests.
The arrest marks a major escalation in federal authorities’ crackdown on those accused of orchestrating the chaos that has gripped Los Angeles, with more than 146 arrests and millions in damage as protesters clash with police and the National Guard.
We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles,” announced U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli, who confirmed Orellana’s arrest by FBI agents.
Caught red-handed on live TV
The dramatic scenes that led to Orellana’s downfall were captured live on television Monday evening, as FOX 11 cameras rolled on what appeared to be a coordinated distribution of tactical gear to protesters.
Video footage showed a black Ford F-150 pulling up near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building at the intersection of Temple Street and Los Angeles Street, just as tensions were reaching boiling point between demonstrators and National Guard troops.
An unmasked woman was seen frantically handing out boxes branded “bionic shield” – industrial-grade face masks that retail for $60 each – while Orellana, wearing goggles and a face mask, waited in the driver’s seat.
In a bizarre twist, the suspect inexplicably pulled down his mask and exposed his face to cameras before speeding away, giving authorities the clear identification they needed to track him down.
‘Preparing for war’
FOX 11 reporter Elex Michaelson, who witnessed the distribution, immediately raised the alarm on social media: “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?”
The Honeywell-manufactured UVEX Bionic Face Shields being handed out are no ordinary protective equipment. Designed for high-risk industrial environments, they offer full-face coverage against flying debris, chemical splashes, and impact – features that protesters have weaponized to defend against police crowd control tactics including rubber bullets and tear gas.
Eric Daugherty, assistant news director of Florida’s Voice, calculated the staggering cost of the operation: “PAID-FOR ‘bionic shields’ are being trucked in for the Los Angeles rioters. These cost around $60 each…and there are BOXES and BOXES of them being handed out.
Radical connections emerge
Following Orellana’s arrest, explosive allegations have surfaced linking him to the Brown Berets, a radical Latino paramilitary group with a history of militant activism across California.
The timing of the gear distribution was no coincidence – it came just as anti-ICE protests were spiraling out of control, with demonstrators:
- Setting fires in the streets
- Spray-painting anti-government slogans on federal buildings
- Performing dangerous “burnouts” with vehicles
- Climbing light poles and blocking major highways
- Hurling projectiles at police officers
Federal crackdown intensifies
Orellana faces serious federal charges under 18 USC 371 for conspiracy to commit civil disorders, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison.
His arrest comes as President Trump has deployed over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, prompting fierce criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, who claim the federal response is escalating tensions.
But federal authorities argue the organized distribution of riot gear proves these are not spontaneous protests but coordinated attempts to create chaos.
The $60 question: Who’s paying?
Perhaps the most pressing question remains unanswered: Who funded the purchase of potentially thousands of dollars worth of tactical gear?
Conservative commentators have pointed to the professional nature of the operation, with one social media user posting: “That’s not the kind of thing that you buy in bulk if you don’t plan on doing something with it… They are planning for a CLASH.”
The boxes of shields left behind at the scene may provide crucial evidence as investigators follow the money trail to determine whether Orellana acted alone or as part of a larger, well-funded network.
Chaos continues
The arrest comes as Los Angeles remains under a curfew from 8pm to 6am in downtown areas, with protesters continuing to clash with authorities over ICE immigration raids that have resulted in more than 118 arrests of suspected illegal immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that over 1,000 rioters surrounded federal buildings earlier this week, assaulting ICE officers, slashing tires, and defacing government property.
Mayor Bass has blamed “bad actors” for hijacking peaceful protests, while critics argue that local officials’ anti-ICE rhetoric has emboldened violent extremists.
Hunt for the woman continues
While Orellana sits in federal custody, authorities are still searching for the unidentified woman caught on camera actually handing out the masks from his truck.
Wearing dark clothing but notably unmasked herself, she was seen passing gear to eager protesters who “quickly grabbed” the equipment before melting back into the crowd.
The FBI has not confirmed whether she faces similar charges or if additional arrests are imminent.
As Los Angeles braces for more protests and federal agents vow to hunt down every organizer of violence, Orellana’s arrest sends a clear message: those who arm rioters for battle against law enforcement will face the full force of federal justice.
The question now is whether his arrest will stem the tide of violence – or inspire copycat suppliers to fill the void he’s left behind.
