Los Angeles, California – Federal prosecutors have charged two men from Los Angeles County with possession of Molotov cocktails during recent civil unrest linked to protests against immigration enforcement operations, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. The charges, which carry a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, come as tensions continue to rise over the federal government’s deportation actions and the response from communities across Southern California.
Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, of Paramount, and Wrackkie Quiogue, 27, of Long Beach, face charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device after allegedly using or attempting to use Molotov cocktails during chaotic scenes in Paramount and downtown Los Angeles earlier this month. Both men are currently in federal custody. Authorities ordered Quiogue to be detained following an initial court appearance Tuesday, while Galvez is expected to appear in court in the coming days.
According to the Justice Department, Galvez allegedly threw a lit Molotov cocktail over a wall toward Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies who were conducting crowd control operations in Paramount on the evening of June 7. Authorities say the area was the site of protests earlier that day, sparked by news of increased immigration enforcement operations by federal agents…