New Mexico: A jury came back with a guilty verdict for Gregory Vandenberg, 49, a former Navy SEAL after he stood trial for conspiring to attack police officers with various explosives during a “No Kings” protest.
The trial was held to determine if Vanderberg transported explosives and fireworks into California with the intent of killing people.
It only took three hours for a jury to conclude that Vanderberg did indeed commit the crimes and found him guilty at the conclusion of the five-day trial.
According to the prosecution, Vanderberg traveled by car from El Paso, Texas to San Diego, California for a scheduled “No Kings” protest. But he decided to stop along the way in New Mexico at a rest stop equipped with a fireworks retail store and purchased several mortars and over 70 M-150 firecrackers.
M-150 firecrackers are designed to produce only a loud explosion and a flash of light. They do not have visual effects like sparks, colored stars, or aerial displays. Mortars, however, are made for aerial explosives and also pack a large explosive capability.
During the purchase at the fireworks store, authorities said Vanderberg elaborated on his violent plan to attack law enforcement officers to the store clerk.
“He repeatedly asked about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, whether taping multiple mortars together would increase their explosive force and said he was interested only in their ability to injure officers,” Fox News reported.
During the trial, testimony was read that Vanderberg encouraged the store clerk to attend the protest to hand out fireworks and assured him that “he would not get hurt because of his military experience.”
An alert store employee then took notes on Vanderberg, including taking his license plate number and subsequently alerting the authorities of his plans.
Federal law enforcement tracked Vanderberg down at a military installation in Tucson, Arizona where he was found sleeping in his vehicle and arrested. Investigators then searched his vehicle where they discovered a trove of anti-semitic, anti-Israel propaganda, and other disturbing extremist paraphernalia.
“Among the items recovered were shirts bearing an Al-Qaeda flag, a shirt calling for the destruction of Judea, a hat featuring the Al-Qaeda flag and apparel displaying a variation of the Black Sun, a symbol associated with neo-Nazi ideology,” the media wrote.
During the trial, the jury was shown pictures of Vanderberg with a t-shirt that read “AMALEK”, which the prosecution said it meant “destroyer of Jews.” Additional evidence included other extremist, pro-Taliban imagery found in his cell phone along with information regarding upcoming protests.
Prosecutors argued that Vanderberg believed that President Trump was controlled by Israeli officials.
In a statement provided by Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, he stated, “"People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and to express them peacefully. What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others."
Vanderberg was found guilty and was issued a 16-month prison sentence followed by release under supervision.
Not Indicative of the SEAL Community
Navy SEALs are among the most highly trained special operations fighters America has to offer and are attributed to several high-profile,highly visible operations such as the one that took down Osama Bin Laden.
Vanderberg is not representative of the SEAL community.
Law Enforcement Today reached out to Jimmy May, the founder of Beyond The Brotherhood, a nonprofit organization that assists former Navy SEALs reintegrate back into society, to get his take on this news story.
"There is absolutely no excuse for this kind of behavior,” Jimmy said. “Navy SEALs are carefully selected and rigorously trained to defend the Constitution and protect the American people - not to use those skills against them. If someone chooses to betray that oath, they alone are responsible for that decision. They do not represent the values of the SEAL Teams or the thousands of honorable men who have earned the Trident through decades of sacrifice and service.”
Jimmy is a strong supporter of the law enforcement community and only wants the best for them.
“Our brothers and sisters in law enforcement already face extraordinary risks every day. The idea that someone with military training would conspire to target the very people who stand between order and chaos is reprehensible. They deserve our support,” Jimmy said.
Although Vanderberg was a Navy SEAL, he is still responsible for his actions.
“The SEAL community holds itself to an exceptionally high standard. When one of our own violates that standard, we don't make excuses, we expect accountability,” he said.
To learn more about Beyond the Brotherhood, visit their website at https://www.beyondthebrotherhood.org/ and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
To learn, participate, or volunteer for the Navy SEAL Hudson River Swim, visit their website at https://nycsealswims.com/.
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Writer and author Eddie Molina has over 25 years of combined LEO and military service. Learn more about his interview articles at www.eddiemolina.com
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