Long Beach, Paramount Men Charged With Possessing Molotov Cocktail During LA Protests

LONG BEACH, CA — A Long Beach and Paramount man are both facing charges for possessing a Molotov cocktail during separate anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Wrackkie Quiogue, 27, of Long Beach, and Emiliano Garduno Galvez, 23, of Paramount, were charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to federal prosecutors. If convicted, they each could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors say Galvez lit and threw a Molotov cocktail over a wall of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies who were conducting crowd control during the protests in Paramount on June 7, which sparked off as federal agents were preparing for immigration enforcement operations

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Quiogue, the following day, was near the Los Angeles Civic Center in Downtown and was seen by officers holding a Molotov cocktail and lighter, according to authorities. He tried to run away, throwing the device in the process, but was arrested by officers, authorities said.

“When protesting crosses the line into violence, the penalties will be severe,” United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. "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."

Demonstrations have remained mostly peaceful following multiple days of chaos and clashes between police and some protesters. Over the last two days, officers in Downtown have cracked down on protesters using aggressive tactics and vastly outnumbering them.

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Protesters have been determined to avoid confrontation with federal agents and the National Guard, steering clear of the freeway and marching away around the city rather than staying in one location.

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