LOS ANGELES (AP) — Emiliano Garduno Galvez, a 23-year-old man, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after admitting to throwing a Molotov cocktail at Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies during protests against significant immigration raids in the region last spring.
Galvez, a Mexican national residing in the U.S. illegally, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and civil disorder, linked to his actions on June 7 in Paramount, a city close to Los Angeles. He received his sentence on Friday.
The incident occurred during a protest at a Home Depot where U.S. Border Patrol agents had gathered, and at least some protesters were seen throwing rocks and other items. According to the plea agreement, Galvez admitted to lighting the Molotov cocktail behind a wall and throwing it towards the deputies, with the incendiary device landing dangerously close to law enforcement and protesters alike.
His intention was described in the agreement as an effort to disrupt and interfere with the lawful duties of the deputies. The U.S. attorney's office condemned his actions, highlighting the reckless endangerment posed to both officers and a peaceful protester.
In his defense, Galvez’s public defenders requested a more lenient punishment of three years, arguing that he recognizes the seriousness of his actions and their potential consequences.
The protest was part of a broader backlash against immigration enforcement by authorities, which included peaceful demonstrations among those marching with slogans and signs, yet some protests escalated into violence, resulting in numerous arrests and conflicts with law enforcement, including the use of chemical agents to disperse crowds.
