Store clerks tip busts former Navy SEAL plotting to bomb cops at No Kings protest

A former U.S.Navy SEAL was convicted in a foiled plot to attack law enforcement officers with explosives during a “No Kings” protest in California after a store clerk’s tip led federal investigators to him.Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was found guilty after a five-day federal trial of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.Jurors deliberated for about three hours before returning the guilty verdict.Prosecutors said Vandenberg was driving from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego ahead of the June 14, 2025, demonstrations when he stopped at a travel center near Lordsburg, New Mexico, and purchased six mortar-style fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers.While making the purchase, Vandenberg told a store clerk he intended to throw the explosives at law enforcement officers during the protests, federal authorities said.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, prosecutors said.Vandenberg also encouraged the clerk to attend the protests and hand out fireworks to others, telling the employee he would not get hurt because of his military experience, according to trial testimony.The conversation alarmed employees enough that they wrote down Vandenberg’s license plate and contacted law enforcement before he reached California.Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where he was arrested the following morning while sleeping inside his vehicle.Prosecutors said he falsely claimed he was traveling for work despite being unemployed and later told investigators he was visiting friends in Phoenix.A search of Vandenberg’s vehicle uncovered the fireworks along with clothing displaying antise...