Two Southern California men have been federally charged in connection with recent civil disturbances, the Justice Department announced. According to a press release, Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, of Paramount, and Wrackkie Quiogue, 27, of Long Beach, are facing allegations of possessing Molotov cocktails amid protests against federal immigration enforcement. Both men have been detained, with Quiogue having made his initial court appearance and Galvez expected to appear before the United States District Court in the coming days.
Under the weight of these accusations, the defendants could be looking at up to ten years in federal prison for possession of an unregistered destructive device. Their supposed actions during times of civil unrest not only bring this potential sentence to bear but also raise critical questions about the intersection of protest and violence. "Possessing a Molotov cocktail or another destructive device is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison," said United States Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement released by the Justice Department. He further emphasized that, "The vile attacks such as the ones alleged in these complaints could have resulted in life-altering or life-ending injuries to police officers, sheriff's deputies, and innocent bystanders."
The specific events leading to these charges involve Galvez allegedly lighting and throwing a Molotov cocktail over a wall towards deputies involved in crowd control in Paramount last Saturday, as per a complaint affidavit. Similarly, Quiogue was arrested after being spotted with a Molotov cocktail during civil disturbances near federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles on June 8, as officers witnessed him holding the incendiary device and attempting to flee arrest.
Additionally, two other individuals, Christian Andres Garcia, 32, of Anaheim, and Rene Luna, 43, of Orange, have been charged separately with assault on a federal officer, a misdemeanor. His charges could lead to up to one year in federal prison, and court documents claim that Garcia threw objects at law enforcement outside a Homeland Security Investigations office, while Luna allegedly hurled water bottles and beer cans at officers during a protest in Santa Ana on June 9. Both are anticipated to make their initial appearances in the United States District Court in Santa Ana shortly.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating Quiogue and Galvez with support from local police departments. Additionally, Garcia and Luna's actions are under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, with the FBI assisting in the Galvez case. Assistant United States Attorneys David C. Lachman, Jenna W. Long, and Brian Yang, all from the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, are prosecuting the respective cases. For further details, Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy can be contacted as listed in the Justice Department's announcement.
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