Middle Village Man Stockpiled Ammo, Threatened U.S. Senator Online: Feds

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Jan. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin

A Middle Village man who allegedly posted online threats about leading an armed caravan to the nation’s capital and killing a U.S. senator-elect has been charged with illegal possession of ammunition.

Eduard Florea, 40, was arrested Tuesday at his home on 76th Street near Eliot Avenue after FBI agents raided the house and found more than a thousand rounds of ammunition.

His arrest comes at a time when the FBI is searching for suspects across the country who violently stormed the Capitol building last week in an attempt to stop the certification of the presidential election.

While Florea, a self-proclaimed Proud Boy, is not believed to have participated in the riot, he posted several threats against lawmakers online.

He posted statements about killing U.S. Senator-Elect Raphael Warnock – who was elected in Georgia’s run-offs last week — and storming Washington with firearms on the conservative social media site Parler, according to the criminal complaint.

The Middle Village resident allegedly posted statements such as “dead men can’t pass [expletive] laws” about Warnock as well as “the time for peace and civility is over … it’s time to unleash some violence” under the username “LoneWolfWar,” the complaint states.

He also wrote that he was organizing an armed caravan to descend on D.C. on the now-suspended Parler app.

“3 cars of armed patriots heading into DC from NY/ Guns cleaned loaded … got a bunch of guys all armed and ready to deploy … we are just waiting for the word,” Florea allegedly wrote on Jan. 6 — the day violent supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol.

Investigators do not believe Florea was in D.C. at the time of the deadly riot at the Capitol building.

Nonetheless, federal agents showed up to his Middle Village home in armed vehicle to arrest him.

“As alleged, Florea, a previously convicted felon, made various social media posts about his plan to travel to Washington D.C. to engage in acts of violence,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said in a statement. “We saved him a trip and paid him a visit instead.”

Florea was charged at Brooklyn federal court Wednesday with being a felon in possession of ammunition.

He has a prior felony conviction in 2014 for criminal possession of a weapon when police officers found more than a dozen firearms — including at least one machine gun — as well as ammunition and high-capacity magazines in his possession on Staten Island.

He also faced domestic abuse charges for allegedly choking his wife in 2014 and threatening to kill her and her daughter, the Staten Island Advance reported.

Florea served one year behind bars for the charges, according to news reports.

If convicted on the new charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison.