Capitol Riot Threats Land Queens Man In Prison For 33 Months

MIDDLE VILLAGE, QUEENS — On Jan. 5th he threatened to go armed to Washington D.C. and kill a Member of Congress. On Jan. 6th, as a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, he said he was ready to join them. Now, he will serve 33 months in prison, according to a federal news release.

Eduard Florea, a 41-year-old resident of Middle Village, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison on Dec. 16th for threatening to kill and injure people, including now-United States Senator Raphael Warnock, and for breaking a federal gun regulation law; despite a previous gun-related felony, Florea illegally owned 1,000 rounds of ammunition, records show.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said that Florea's sentence is a "serious consequence" in response to his threats of violence. "This Office is deeply committed to protecting our democratic institutions and preserving our democracy, and will vigorously prosecute those who would undermine our founding principles as a nation," Peace said.

Florea's threatening statements date back to Jan. 5th, according to federal records, which show that he posted online about killing Warnock and hurting people in Washington D.C. in response to the certification of President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 Presidential Election.

"We need to all come to an agreement . . . and go armed . . . and really take back Washington," he posted around 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 5th. Minutes later he posted, "tomorrow may very [well] be the day war kicks off . . ."

The next day, in the midst of rioters storming the U.S. Capitol, Florea said he and a group were armed and ready to fight.

"Mine are ready....I am ready.... we need to regroup outside of DC and attack from all sides... talking to some other guys....I will keep watching for the signal," he posted.

"Me and some guys are gearing up to head in. . . . where are you . . . 3 cars already are en-route . . . . all armed," came next, followed by: "It’s time to unleash some violence."

The federal news release did not specify if Florea arrived at the U.S. Capitol, as planned.

About a week after these posts, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force went to Florea's house in Queens with a search warrant.

There, they found that Florea illegally owned more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, despite his previous gun-related felony.

Florea is not the only New York City resident connected with the Jan. 6th Capitol insurrection: Over the summer, police arrested a Brooklyn plumber and failed political candidate who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol.