(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.
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…