An individual from Mexico was sentenced to four years in federal prison for throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement officers during an anti-immigration enforcement protest in Paramount, California. Emiliano Garduño Gálvez, 23, received the sentence from United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
Gálvez pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possessing an unregistered destructive device and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder. He has been held in federal custody since June 2025.
“This defendant’s reckless behavior threatened the lives and safety of law enforcement officers and that of a lawful protester,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office remains steadfast in its efforts to prosecute and punish those who commit acts of violence against others.”
The incident took place on June 7, 2025, when groups gathered in Paramount to protest federal immigration enforcement activities in Los Angeles County. The demonstration escalated into a civil disorder with individuals throwing objects at law enforcement officers, lighting fires, and setting off fireworks. Law enforcement declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
During the unrest, rioters caused disruptions including temporary closure of The Home Depot store and thefts from the business. Streets were blocked by fires set by participants, affecting local businesses’ access.
Gálvez admitted he hid behind a stone wall before lighting and throwing a Molotov cocktail toward Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies performing their duties. The device landed near both protesters and deputies but did not cause injuries. Gálvez had not registered any destructive devices as required by law before fleeing the scene.
“[Gálvez] threw an incendiary device capable of killing someone,” prosecutors stated in court documents. “And his destructive device came far closer to injuring a civilian holding a sign, as opposed to [Gálvez’s] intended target – the sheriff’s deputies.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with help from the FBI and LASD. Assistant United States Attorney Jenna W. Long prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which uses Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration issues and related violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California is responsible for enforcing laws across seven counties with offices located in Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside official website. The office prosecutes criminal cases like this one while working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners official website. It also provides victim assistance programs for community support official website.
