EB worker to appear in court over alleged threats

New London — A former Electric Boat employee charged with threatening to kill his co-workers in text messages to another EB employee is due to appear today in New London Superior Court.

Police said Edward Lesniak was extradited from New York by Groton City police on Wednesday and held in lieu of a $200,000 bond.

Police allege the 39-year-old Coventry, R.I., man sent two threatening texts to a person not identified in an arrest warrant affidavit in the case. That person was concerned for the well-being of coworkers at EB’s Groton facility and contacted EB security and police.

A Feb. 28, 2019, text from Lesniak to the unidentified coworker obtained by police states, “I’m ready to kill...” and named four co-workers in the text message.

“Ya I’m ready to go full blown genocide,” the text continues.

On March 7, while in Scotland on a work program through EB, Lesniak conversed by text message with the same co-workers and stated, “I will be at the bar all weekend smoking. Than in groton Monday killing. Probibly jail Tuesday,” the affidavit states.

EB security investigators on Friday brought the text messages to the attention of Groton City police, who obtained an arrest warrant that day. EB security personnel also notified Coventry, R.I., police that Lesniak may have weapons at his home at 10 Marjorie St., including a .50 caliber sniper rifle hidden in a false wall in his basement. Police said they seized a .50 caliber rifle, a shotgun and multiple handguns.

Lesniak’s wife was supposed to fly to Scotland to meet with Lesniak. EB, which police said was paying for her trip, canceled her flight and informed Lesniak he needed to report back to the U.S. and be in Groton at the Electric Boat security office on Monday morning.

EB security officers told police Lesniak was to be fired.

Lesniak was taken into custody by federal customs agents at John F.

Kennedy International Airport when he arrived from Scotland on Saturday. He was held as a fugitive from justice by the New York Port Authority Police.

Groton City police charged Lesniak with first-degree threatening and disorderly conduct on Wednesday. A spokeswoman with EB declined comment.