By admin 
(Gray News) – A former U.S. Navy SEAL who was convicted of transporting fireworks across state lines with plans to shoot explosives at police during last year’s “No Kings Day” protest in San Diego was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
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Prosecutors said that on June 12, 2025, Gregory Vandenberg intended to use explosives against law enforcement officers at California protests and that his actions were motivated by extremist, antisemitic beliefs.
Vandenberg, 49, was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to attend the “No Kings Day” protests scheduled for June 14, 2025. While in New Mexico, Vandenberg visited a travel center off Interstate 10 near Lordsburg and purchased six large mortar fireworks, which are designed to shoot high into the air and explode, and 72 M-150 firecrackers, which are designed to sound like gunfire.
During this visit, he told the store clerk that he intended to throw fireworks at police officers at the upcoming protests. He asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others.
He also discussed taping multiple fireworks together to increase their explosive force. Vandenberg emphasized that he was not interested in the color or display of the fireworks, only in their ability to create explosions and injure law enforcement officers. He encouraged the clerk to join him at the protests and discussed distributing fireworks to others at the event.
Employees recorded his license plate and contacted law enforcement. Authorities later alleged that Vandenberg intended to use the fireworks against law enforcement personnel during the protests, conduct that prosecutors described as posing a serious risk of injury or death to officers and bystanders alike.
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Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Tucson, Arizona, and arrested him the following morning while he was sleeping in his car at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Vandenberg initially claimed to be traveling for work (despite being unemployed at the time) and later falsely stated he was visiting friends in Phoenix that weekend.
A search of his vehicle revealed the purchased fireworks, along with clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist imagery, including a shirt bearing the al-Qaida flag and another calling for the destruction of Judea.
Agents also discovered that the home screen on Vandenberg’s phone displayed the Taliban flag. Investigators further determined that Vandenberg had worn a custom-made shirt bearing the word “AMALEK” during his visit to the travel center, which he said meant “destroyer of Jews.”
A review of Vandenberg’s phone revealed antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-U.S., and extremist content, including internet searches and messages expressing hostility toward Jews and Israel. According to court records, investigators found messages indicating that Vandenberg viewed the United States government as being controlled by Israel and Jewish people and that those beliefs motivated his desire to target law enforcement officers at the protests. Prosecutors argued that his conduct was driven by extremist, antisemitic views and posed a grave threat to public safety.
He was convicted on January 12, following a five-day jury trial.
After he is released from prison, Vandenberg will spend one year under supervised release.
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