Six men from California have admitted guilt in connection with throwing fireworks, rocks, and other dangerous items at California Highway Patrol officers during intense protests against ICE in Los Angeles last summer.
Among those charged, Adam Charles Palermo could face up to 20 years in federal prison for his attempt to damage a CHP vehicle; he threw burning debris from an overpass onto officers below on Highway 101.
The 40-year-old man from Rampart Village is facing felony charges for assaulting or obstructing a federal officer with a potentially deadly weapon.
After a turbulent riot in downtown Los Angeles on June 8, the CHP reported, “After throwing a rock, Palermo ignited an object and let it fall onto a CHP patrol vehicle.” This caused the vehicle to catch fire.
According to the Justice Department, Palermo, along with Ismael Vega, 41, and Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, used fireworks and set fire to various items to drop on officers below. Flores added more liquid to the fire, intensifying the flames.
Both Vega and Flores pleaded guilty to felony charges of obstructing law enforcement amidst a civil disturbance, each potentially facing five years in federal prison.
Another individual, Barton Montion, 25, also entered a guilty plea, as did Junior Roldan, 27, from Hollywood, and Ronald Alexis Kollias, 23, from Westlake.
Prosecutors noted that all three men threw rocks at officers while trying to navigate the overpass.
Montion could face up to five years in prison, while Roldan and Kollias are looking at a year each. Palermo has been in federal custody since August 2025, and the other defendants aren’t eligible for bail.
Additionally, Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez Jr., 22, from Las Vegas, is set to plead guilty to a simple assault charge related to an officer assisting a federal officer on May 4.
The protests in June 2025 dragged on for over a month, prompting President Donald Trump to federalize the California National Guard to help manage the situation. Guardsmen finally withdrew by mid-July.
