Worcester Man Indicted on Charges of Civil Disorder and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm

BOSTON – A Worcester, Mass. man was indicted by a grand jury today with civil disorder and possession of a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration in the City of Worcester over the death of George Floyd.

Vincent Eovacious, 18, was indicted today on one count of civil disorder and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Eovacious was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 3, 2020.

According to charging documents, on June 1, 2020, crowds gathered at various locations in Worcester to protest the death of George Floyd, including South Main Street. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a large crowd blocked traffic and began throwing objects in the direction of the police. As officers on scene gathered into a line formation, one officer observed a man dressed in a trench coat standing on top of a building at 848 Main Street which is clearly marked, “No Trespassing.” The man, later identified as Eovacious, allegedly yelled for the crowd below to kill the police and paced back and forth on the rooftop. The officer then observed Eovacious remove a bottle from his satchel that appeared to contain liquid and attempt to insert a rag into the bottle while holding a silver object that the officer believed to be a lighter. Minutes later, officers observed Eovacious walking in the area of May and Main Streets, still carrying the satchel, and stopped him. According to court documents, officers searched the satchel and recovered three clear glass bottles with a slightly yellow liquid that smelled of gasoline, five white rags, one green lighter and one silver lighter. Eovacious stated that the liquid in the glass bottles was gasoline and that he was “with the anarchist group” and was “waiting for an opportunity.”

The civil disorder charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Friedholm and Danial Bennett, of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office, are prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.