Former Long Island Funeral Home Owner Pleads Guilty in Capitol Riot Incident
The former proprietor of multiple funeral homes in Long Island has pleaded guilty to federal assault charges stemming from his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol. Peter G. Moloney, age 60, was accused of spraying police officers with an insecticide and physically assaulting a photographer during the chaotic events that unfolded that day.
According to prosecutors, Moloney was one of the initial rioters to breach the area outside the Capitol after attending the “Stop the Steal” rally, a demonstration supporting former President Donald J. Trump. Upon his arrival at the Capitol, Moloney allegedly aimed a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer at the heads, arms, and hands of law enforcement officers present at the scene.
Moloney’s guilty plea includes one felony charge for assaulting, resisting, and impeding police officers, as well as a misdemeanor charge for assault by striking another individual. In addition to the criminal charges, he has agreed to pay restitution for damages inflicted on the Capitol grounds and for the destruction of a camera belonging to an individual he mistakenly believed was a journalist.
Legal representatives for Moloney have chosen not to comment on his plea deal. However, it has been revealed that he traveled from his home in Bayport, New York, to the Capitol armed with a bicycle helmet, safety goggles, hard-knuckle gloves, and a face mask. An FBI agent noted in the federal complaint that Moloney donned his helmet and goggles upon arrival, showcasing his preparedness for potential violence.
The complaint against Moloney is accompanied by nearly 30 images that depict him in various confrontational scenarios near the Capitol. In some photographs, he is seen clashing with police officers, while in others, he holds his cellphone aloft, capturing the events as they unfold. Notably, two images taken from police officers’ body-worn cameras clearly show Moloney actively spraying officers with the wasp spray.