Man Receives 48-Month Prison Sentence for Throwing Molotov Cocktail at Deputies in Paramount
Man Sentenced for Throwing Molotov Cocktail During Paramount Protest
A 23-year-old man was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement during a protest in Paramount last year. The sentencing was announced Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Emiliano Garduño Gálvez pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device and obstructing law enforcement amidst civil disorder. Initially, he had entered a not guilty plea in July but changed his position in October.
“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 unrest erupted on June 7, 2022, when an immigration enforcement operation at a Home Depot in Paramount sparked protests across Los Angeles. As tensions escalated, Gálvez reportedly threw a flaming Molotov cocktail towards sheriff’s deputies, landing approximately 15 feet away in a grassy area.
Described by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a Mexican national residing in Paramount, Gálvez had overstayed a visa for over a decade, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Yang.
