CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Buffalo man faces one count of Inciting to Riot, a misdemeanor, for a post he allegedly made on Facebook.
Dino Bruscia, 27, is accused of creating an event on Facebook that encouraged people to loot Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga. He was arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court on Friday morning.
The event was created on May 31, during a weekend of protests in Buffalo in response to the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
Bruscia was given an appearance ticket the following day. Since receiving that ticket, Bruscia has also been arrested and charged in connection to an arson at an Amherst man's home. In that case, he was released on his own recognizance to await trial.
This is not the first time Bruscia has faced charges in connection to social media activity. In 2018, Bruscia was charged with aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weaponfollowing a post in which he was accused of displaying a gun and threatening an individual.
For the inciting to riot charge, Bruscia faces a maximum of one year in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to return to court on September 22.
