Peter Moloney of Bayport, co-owner of Moloney Family Funeral Homes, charged with assaulting officers during Jan. 6 riot, federal prosecutors say

The co-owner of a chain of Long Island funeral homes accused of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was charged Wednesday with assaulting law-enforcement officers and seven other crimes, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. 

Peter G. Moloney, co-owner of Moloney Family Funeral Homes, allegedly sprayed insecticide at the faces and bodies of police officers, according to court papers filed in Washington, D.C.

Moloney also was part of a group of protesters that attacked an Associated Press photographer and news videographer during the riot intended to overturn the 2020 presidential election following former President Donald Trump's defeat, federal prosecutors said.

Moloney, 58, of Bayport, was arrested Wednesday morning. He agreed to face the charges in Washington during a removal hearing Wednesday afternoon in Central Islip federal court.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke ordered Moloney to be released on $100,000 bond. Moloney will appear virtually before a District of Columbia judge on June 20. 

“Moloney did not simply march to the Capitol with other protesters. He brought protective eyewear, a helmet, and a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer,” an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit. “This indicates that he went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, prepared for violence."

Moloney did not enter a plea at Wednesday’s brief hearing. 

“He is presumed to be innocent under the Constitution of the United States of America,” said Edward Heilig, one of Moloney’s attorneys. “He has yet to be brought before a court for arraignment, so up until then, there is no entering of a plea. He maintains his innocence.” 

Moloney is charged with felony civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, assault by striking and five misdemeanor charges, according to the court documents. 

According to court documents, Moloney was accompanied during the Capitol riot by another employee of the funeral home chain, identified as “Colleague 1.” Colleague 1 has not been charged with a crime, according to court papers. 

The business put out a written statement about the arrest.

"The alleged actions taken by an individual on his own time are in no way reflective of the core values of Moloney Funeral Home, which is dedicated to earning and maintaining the trust of all members of the community of every race, religion and nationality,” said co-owner Dan Moloney.

Locke agreed to allow Peter Moloney to surrender his passport on June 19 so the defendant could travel to London to celebrate his wife's birthday. 

In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

With Grant Parpan