Vincent Eovacious, Civil Disorder, Massachusetts 2023

Worcester, MA – A Worcester man pleaded guilty to charges of civil disorder and possession of an unregistered firearm after a demonstration in the City of Worcester over the death of George Floyd.

Vincent Eovacious, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2022.

Eovacious was indicted in October 2020 and faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for the civil disorder charge. He also faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for the unlawful possession of a firearm charge.

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, 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. They 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 investigation was led by the Worcester Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, James Ferguson, 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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