An illegal immigrant from Mexico, Emiliano Garduño Gálvez, 23, was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder in Paramount last year. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge André Birotte Jr.
Gálvez has been in federal custody since June 2025. According to court documents, on June 7, 2025, Gálvez participated in a protest against immigration enforcement activities in Los Angeles County. The demonstration escalated into violence as individuals threw objects at law enforcement officers and set off fireworks. Law enforcement declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. The office is responsible for enforcing federal laws and handling criminal prosecutions across seven counties including Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside (official website). It partners with law enforcement agencies to protect residents and manages both criminal and civil matters.
During the incident, Gálvez lit and threw a Molotov cocktail at deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), aiming to impede their official duties. The device landed near a protester and approximately 15 feet from the deputies. He did not register the device as required by law before fleeing the scene.
“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.”
Prosecutors noted in their sentencing memorandum: “[Gálvez] threw an incendiary device capable of killing someone. 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 falls under Operation Take Back America, which focuses on combating illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California serves more than 19 million residents (official website) through its work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners (official website).
