A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing powerful explosives in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during riots in California, officials announced this week.
According to court documents, on June 12, 2025, Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to purchase fireworks. During the transaction, Vandenberg requested assistance in selecting fireworks that could be thrown directly at people to cause harm. He told store employees that he was prior special forces military and claimed he could make pipe bombs.
Vandenberg further stated that he was traveling to Los Angeles, California, for the riots, with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials.
Store employees said Vandenberg asked for the most powerful explosives and invited one worker to join his “platoon” in California. He claimed to have mortar explosives and said he planned to use them during riots to kill officers. He bought six mortars—each with 60 grams of gunpowder—and 36 large fireworks before driving west on I-10 in a vehicle with Montana plates, according to court documents.
Vandenberg is charged with transporting explosives across state lines with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate. He remains in custody pending trial.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.