A Proud Boys supporter pleaded guilty on Monday to creating social media threats tied to the Jan. 6 rebellion on the U.S. Capitol, along with a threat to kill an incoming U.S. senator.
The defendant, Eduard Florea, also admitted to storing a massive amount of ammunition at his home in the big apple metropolis borough of Queens.
Florea, 41, a software program engineer and father of two, entered his plea at a faraway hearing before chief U.S. Justice of the Peace Cheryl Pollak in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors stated Florea used the moniker “LoneWolfWar” on Parler, a social media platform utilized by conservatives, to make threats earlier than and for the duration of the rise, in which supporters of Republican then-President Donald Trump tried to forestall Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden‘s presidential election win.
Florea, who did not attend the rebellion, allegedly noted current Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia as a “useless” man.
Prosecutors said he also wrote while the Capitol was under siege: “I am waiting for my orders… armed and prepared to install” and “it’s time to unleash some violence.”
An FBI search of Florea’s home in Queens later uncovered more than 900 rounds of ammunition, 72 army-fashion fight knives, hatchets, and swords, prosecutors said.
Federal recommendations propose that Florea spend 15 to 21 months in jail, but prosecutors intend to search for a long run at his sentencing, scheduled for Nov. 29. The defendant has been detained in a Brooklyn prison since January.
Florea’s legal professional did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A remote public connection to Monday’s listening failed earlier than Florea entered his plea.
The Proud Boys are a miles-right group that has supported violence and advocated for Trump.
Federal prosecutors in Washington stated this month they were in preliminary talks with several Proud Boys defendants about feasible pleas. [nL1N2P929Q
More than 570 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection. Trump has falsely claimed that Biden’s win resulted from large-scale vote casting fraud.
Proud Boys| Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @njtimesofficial. To get the latest updates
