California man previously on FBI's most wanted list pleads guilty to assaulting federal officer during protest

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A Compton man who was previously on the FBI’s most wanted list pleaded guilty Tuesday to assaulting and injuring a federal officer during an anti-immigration enforcement protest last year.Elpidio Reyna, 41, admitted to throwing rocks at a convoy of government vehicles during a June 7 protest in Paramount.One of the rocks shattered the glass of a vehicle, injuring a Customs and Border Protection officer by cutting his forehead, according to the plea agreement.

Reyna pleaded guilty to a felony count of assault on a federal officer by deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury.He has been in federal custody since July 2025.When Reyna is sentenced in August, he faces up to 20 years in prison.“This defendant could have easily killed a federal officer or innocent bystander,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

“As he found out the hard way, violence against law enforcement is not constitutionally protected and will be met with swift justice.Those who engage in similar violence will be arrested, charged, and eventually convicted in a court of law.”Reyna’s attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, said her client “regrets how emotional he became that day.”“He learned afterwards that a rock he threw broke some glass on an agent’s car,” Bednarski said.

“Thankfully the agent, while scratched by the car glass, did not require any medical attention.”Reyna is among more than 100 people who have been charged since June for alleged assaults on agents or interference with immigration enforcement.As of this month, according to the U.S.

attorney’s office in L.A., 24 people have pleaded guilty to assault, impeding and other charges, and 23 have had charges dismissed.Six have gone to trial, including five for assault on a federal officer, and all have resulted in acquittals.California The federal public defender’s office in L.A.

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