Remember all those anti-ICE riots that engulfed Los Angeles in 2025 and turned it into a battle zone? A virtual war on law enforcement broke out, with rioters throwing things off overpasses at California Highway Patrol vehicles and at one point even trapping CHP officers under a bridge in an extremely treacherous moment.
There was one guy who thought it would be a good idea to light law enforcement vehicles on fire and rain down electric scooters from above.
On Monday, his time to pay up came due, and pay up he will, as First Assistant U.S. District Attorney Bill Essayli details:
Another day, another illegal immigration rioter from last summer is sent to federal prison.
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) August 3, 2026
Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $253,415 in restitution for his role in an pro-illegal immigration… pic.twitter.com/81pFRPgpFh
Another day, another illegal immigration rioter from last summer is sent to federal prison.
Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $253,415 in restitution for his role in an pro-illegal immigration riot in downtown Los Angeles last year.
During the June 8, 2025 assault on officers, Flores stood on the Main Street overpass of the 101 Freeway and poured lighter fluid onto a burning California Highway Patrol vehicle below. His reckless actions escalated the flames as officers were trapped below facing rocks, concrete, street signs, fireworks, and burning debris thrown by protesters.
Flores also directed another individual to ignite and pour flaming liquid onto the same vehicle before adding more lighter fluid. Minutes later, he helped throw an electric scooter over the railing toward officers and CHP vehicles, aware of the substantial risk of death or serious injury.
Actions have consequences. Those who attack law enforcement will face the full force of justice. This defendant can now reflect on his actions from a federal prison cell.
If the story feels familiar, that's not surprising because our Jennifer Oliver O’Connell reported on another guy from the same riot who was throwing rocks off the bridge who, in late July, received the exact same sentence as Flores. (As you might guess, the same judge, U.S. District Judge John F. Walter, handed down both punishments.)
He’s 42-year-old Westlake resident Ismael Vega, and like Flores, he too will have time to ponder his actions as he stares at concrete walls.
FIND OUT: Anti-ICE Protester Who Threw Rocks at CHP Officers From an Overpass Gets His 'Find Out' Moment
LA Rioters Brandish 'Head' of Trump, Set Waymo Cars on Fire; Even CNN Admits There's a Problem
— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) August 3, 2026
I love that Essayli’s handle when posting to social media is “F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli.” That seems quite fitting, seeing as FA doesn’t just stand for “First Attorney” — it’s also an acronym for “fool around.”
You probably know the first part of the saying, but we’ll just paraphrase the whole thing without any profanity: “fool around and find out.”
And that’s what happened here.
Editor’s Note: Democrats are fanning the flames and raising the rhetoric by comparing ICE to the Gestapo, fascists, and secret police.
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