A shop owner is being hailed as a hero for his actions that foiled a possible attack during a “No Kings” protest.

Gerry Vandenberg, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who purchased powerful explosives to attack law enforcement during the “No Kings” rally in California last year, was found guilty on Monday.

The 49-year old man, was sentenced to 16 months in jail following a five-day jury trial in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“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. Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation, and this verdict sends the message that attempts to substitute violence for expressing one’s opinion has no place in our communities and will be met with federal consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison following his conviction in January.

Vandenberg traveled from Texas ahead of the “No Kings Day” protests in San Diego on June 14, 2025.

While passing by New Mexico, the former Navy SEAL purchased six large mortar fireworks and 72 M-1250 firecrackers at a travel center.

At the store, he told the clerk about his plans to throw fireworks at police and was asking questions about the firecracker’s ability in harming others. He also urged the worker to join him at the protests.

Officials were immediately alerted by the shop owner and Vandenberg was arrested the following morning at an Air Force base in Arizona.

The convicted man had a history of antisemitic and extremist views.

He had a shirt bearing the Al-Qaeda flag and another calling for Judea to be destroyed. His home screen on his phone also showed the Taliban flag.

Vandenberg also believed that the U.S. government was being “controlled by Israel and Jewish people” which led prosecutors convinced that those beliefs “motivated his desire to target law enforcement officers at the protests.”