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A federal jury on Friday convicted a former U.S. Navy SEAL of transporting explosives with the intent to harm law enforcement officers during planned “Three Kings' Day” protests in California, prosecutors announced.
The Justice Department said Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was convicted of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks to California after a five-day jury trial and about three hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors said Vandenberg was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to attend the “Thingless Day” protests in June 2025 when he stopped in New Mexico to purchase six large mortar fireworks.
“During this visit, he told the store employee that he intended to throw fireworks at police officers at upcoming protests. He asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others,” the Justice Department said.
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A courtroom sketch shows the sentencing phase of the former Navy SEAL convicted in the No Kings protest plot. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico)
Store employees became alarmed after Vandenberg repeatedly talked about throwing fireworks at police and asked if the store was going to track him down, prompting them to register his license plate and contact police.
He was arrested in Arizona, where federal agents discovered clothing displaying anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and extremist symbols, including a T-shirt with an image of the Al-Qaeda flag.
A review of his phone also uncovered messages indicating Vandenberg harbored anger toward the U.S. government, including President Donald Trump, driven by his belief that the government was controlled by Israel and Jews.
Federal agents are defending the evidence after a jury found the former SEAL guilty of attempting to harm law enforcement with explosives. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico)
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“People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and express them peacefully,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others. Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation, and this verdict sends a message that attempts to substitute violence for the expression of one's opinion have no place in our communities and will face federal consequences.”
Law enforcement officers at No Kings protest reveal explosive materials linked to former Navy SEAL suspect. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico)
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The Justice Department said the court ordered Vandenberg to remain in custody pending sentencing following the verdict, which has not yet been scheduled.
He faces 10 years in prison.
