The co-owner of a Long Island funeral home chain was charged Wednesday with assault on a law enforcement officer and other felonies for his actions during riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the federal prosecutors
Peter G. Moloney, 58, of Bayport, co-owner of Moloney Family Funeral Homes, was arrested Wednesday and is expected to make his first court appearance later in the day in federal court in Central Islip.
According to court documents filed in the District of Columbia, Moloney was among the first members of a crowd to illegally gather on the Capitol’s west plaza during the initial trespass on Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021.
Moloney, who was wearing a helmet, goggles, gloves and a face cap, removed a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer from his backpack at approximately 1:29 p.m. that day and sprayed it on direction in the face of the police officers. and bodies, according to the documents.
Moloney sprayed police officers with the insecticide on at least one other occasion, prosecutors said, and also joined other rioters in surrounding and attacking people the crowd believed were members of the media.
In the 29 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the US Capitol breach, including nearly 350 accused of assaulting or obstructing the enforcement of the law The investigation is still ongoing.
Dan Moloney, of Maloney Funeral Homes, issued a written statement saying: “The alleged actions taken by one individual on his own time in no way reflect the core values of Moloney Funeral Home, which is dedicated to earning and maintaining trust of all members. of the community of every race, religion and nationality”.
With Grant Parpan
Michael O’Keeffe covers the Suffolk County Police and other Long Island law enforcement agencies. He is an award-winning journalist and co-author of two books, “The Card” and “American Icon.”
