A Mexican national, who was living in the U.S. illegally, has been sentenced to four years in prison after throwing a Molotov cocktail at a Los Angeles County sheriff during protests against ICE in 2025, according to federal officials.
Emiliano Garduño Galvez, 23, received this sentence from U.S. District Judge Andre Bilott Jr. for endangering both law enforcement and fellow protesters with his actions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This defendant’s reckless actions threatened the lives and safety of law enforcement officers and lawful protesters.”
In June 2025, Galvez participated in a large protest at Paramount, an event characterized by the Justice Department as a “civil disorder.” He was accused of acts of severe violence during this time.
Prosecutors noted that Galvez hid behind a wall to light the Molotov cocktail and threw it at deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who were in attendance. It reportedly landed near protesters, approximately 15 feet from the deputies, before he fled the scene.
Galvez later admitted to throwing the incendiary device with the intent to disrupt the deputies’ duties. In October, he pleaded guilty to charges related to possession of an unregistered destructive device and interfering with law enforcement during a public disturbance.
Interestingly, Garduño Galvez had previously been deported from the U.S. and arrested twice in 2024. Despite this, he was still in the country due to California’s sanctuary policies.
