Store clerk foiled ex-Navy SEAL's explosives plot targeting police at No Kings protest, feds say

A erstwhile U.S. Navy SEAL was convicted successful a foiled crippled to onslaught rule enforcement officers pinch explosives during a "No Kings" protestation successful California aft a shop clerk's extremity led national investigators to him.

Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was recovered blameworthy aft a five-day national proceedings of proscription of explosives pinch intent to kill, injure aliases intimidate and attempted proscription of prohibited fireworks into California, according to nan U.S. Attorney's Office for nan District of New Mexico.

Jurors deliberated for astir 3 hours earlier returning nan blameworthy verdict.

Prosecutors said Vandenberg was driving from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego up of nan June 14, 2025, demonstrations erstwhile he stopped astatine a recreation halfway adjacent Lordsburg, New Mexico, and purchased six mortar-style fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers.

FORMER MARINE GETS 100 YEARS IN PRISON AS JUDGE CALLS ICE DETENTION CENTER AMBUSH 'AN ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY'

Surveillance video shows Gregory Vandenberg speaking pinch a shop worker while purchasing fireworks successful New Mexico. Employees later contacted rule enforcement aft he discussed attacking officers astatine California's No Kings protests, national authorities said. (United States Attorney's Office for nan District of New Mexico)

While making nan purchase, Vandenberg told a shop clerk he intended to throw nan explosives astatine rule enforcement officers during nan protests, national authorities said.

He many times asked astir nan magnitude of gunpowder successful nan fireworks, whether taping aggregate mortars together would increase their explosive force and said he was willing only successful their expertise to injure officers, prosecutors said.

'SOMETHING BIG': FEDS REVEAL HOW RELATIVES OF SUSPECTS IN FOILED WHITE HOUSE UFC PLOT SAW WARNING SIGNS

Gregory Vandenberg wears a garment reference "AMALEK" while purchasing fireworks astatine a New Mexico recreation halfway connected June 12, 2025. (United States Attorney's Office for nan District of New Mexico)

Vandenberg besides encouraged nan clerk to be nan protests and manus retired fireworks to others, telling nan worker he would not get wounded because of his subject experience, according to proceedings testimony.

The speech alarmed labor capable that they wrote down Vandenberg's licence sheet and contacted rule enforcement earlier he reached California.

Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base successful Tucson, Arizona, wherever he was arrested nan pursuing greeting while sleeping wrong his vehicle.

ANTI-ISRAEL DEMONSTRATOR SENTENCED TO YEAR IN JAIL FOR MANSLAUGHTER DURING 2023 PROTESTS

Prosecutors said he falsely claimed he was walking for activity contempt being unemployed and later told investigators he was visiting friends successful Phoenix.

A hunt of Vandenberg's conveyance uncovered nan fireworks on pinch clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel and extremist imagery, according to prosecutors.

Among nan items recovered were shirts base an Al-Qaeda flag, a garment calling for nan demolition of Judea, a chapeau featuring nan Al-Qaeda emblem and apparel displaying a variety of nan Black Sun, a awesome associated pinch neo-Nazi ideology.

Federal prosecutors said investigators recovered an Al-Qaeda emblem chapeau from Gregory Vandenberg's conveyance aft his apprehension en way to California's No Kings protests. (United States Attorney's Office for nan District of New Mexico)

Jurors were besides shown photographs of Vandenberg wearing a custom-made T-shirt base nan connection "AMALEK" while wrong nan recreation center. Prosecutors said Vandenberg told investigators nan connection meant "destroyer of Jews."

Investigators besides discovered Vandenberg's cellphone location surface displayed a Taliban flag. A forensic reappraisal of nan telephone uncovered what prosecutors described arsenic convulsive extremist content, including antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-U.S. material, arsenic good arsenic messages discussing nan upcoming protests.

Federal investigators recovered clothing base extremist and antisemitic imagery from Gregory Vandenberg's vehicle, according to tribunal records. (United States Attorney's Office for nan District of New Mexico)

According to prosecutors, those messages suggested Vandenberg believed nan U.S. government, including President Donald Trump, was controlled by Israel and Jewish people, grounds they based on helped found his motive for targeting rule enforcement officers.

"People successful this state are free to clasp their ain beliefs and to definitive them peacefully," Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said successful a statement. "What they are not free to do is usage explosives to frighten aliases terrorize others."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Ellison added that Vandenberg "intended to move explosives into a tool of intimidation," and said nan verdict "sends nan connection that attempts to substitute unit for expressing one's sentiment has nary spot successful our communities and will beryllium met pinch national consequences."

Vandenberg was later sentenced to 16 months successful national prison, wherever he remains successful custody. Upon his release, he will service 1 twelvemonth of supervised release.