Overview
- A federal jury in Albuquerque found Gregory Vandenberg, 49, guilty of transporting explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and of attempting to bring prohibited fireworks into California after a five-day trial and roughly three hours of deliberation.
- Prosecutors said he bought six mortar-style fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers at a Lordsburg, New Mexico travel center after telling a clerk he planned to throw them at police at the June 14, 2025 protest.
- Store employees recorded his license plate and alerted law enforcement, leading agents to arrest him the next morning in Tucson at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as he slept in his car.
- Agents recovered the fireworks along with clothing and symbols reflecting antisemitic, anti-Israel and extremist views, and phone messages indicated he believed the U.S. government is controlled by Israel and the Jewish people and expressed anger toward President Trump.
- Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said the verdict affirms that attempts to use explosives for political violence will face federal consequences.