Queens Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of Ammunition

A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Broolyn charging Eduard Florea with being a felon in possession of ammunition.  Florea was arrested yesterday at his home in Queens, New York, and made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara who ordered the defendant detained pending trial.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge.

“This Office will dutifully and responsibly enforce our nation’s gun and ammunition laws and will act swiftly and decisively where an individual who violates such laws threatens our institutions with acts of violence,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “Respectful of our citizens’ rights and our obligation to protect their safety and their liberties, we will ensure the orderly functioning of our country’s democratic institutions and the safety of those we are sworn to protect through our diligent investigations and, where appropriate, federal prosecution.”  Mr. DuCharme expressed his grateful appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their assistance on the case.

“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. We saved him a trip and paid him a visit instead. Yesterday evening members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, to include our partners at the New York City Police Department, placed him under arrest for illegally possessing ammunition. For those of you out there with similar intentions, heed this warning—knock it off, or expect to see us at your door,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.    

According to the complaint and statements made in court, Florea operated a social media account on Parler using the name “LoneWolfWar.” Florea who was previously convicted of a New York state firearms-related felony, posted threatening statements online about killing a United States Senator-elect and about intending to travel to Washington D.C. as part of a group armed with firearms ready to engage in violence.  For example, on January 6, 2021, Florea posted “dead men can’t pass [expletive] laws” in response to a post about a United States Senator-elect.  Additionally, Florea posted on social media:

• “Let’s go . . . I will be reaching out to patriots in my area so we can come up with a game plan . . . Here in New York we are target rich[] . . . . Dead men can’t pass [expletive] law. . . . I will fight so help me god.”
• “The time for peace and civility is over . . . ./3 cars full of armed patriots are enroute from NY / 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.”
• “Its time to unleash some violence.”

n January 12, 2021, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant at Florea’s home in Middle Village, Queens.  Law enforcement recovered over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Florea faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Francisco J. Navarro is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

EDUARD FLOREA
Age: 40
Middle Village, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-MJ-35