The group, who became known as the Văcăreșteni (named after the prison at Văcărești, where they were held), were accused of amassing arms and plotting to kill government ministers and Jewish business figures.

[3] Gârneață was one of the founding members of the Legionary Movement (later known as the Iron Guard), and from 1936 onwards held the title of Comandant al Bunei Vestiri ("Commandant of the Annunciation"), the highest rank in the organization.

[4] Gârneață was a frequent contributor to Pământul strămoșesc, an organ of the Legionary Movement which began publication in 1927.

In 1931 he began to co-edit the antisemitic newspaper Cuvântul Iașului alongside Nelu Ionescu and Stelian Teodorescu.

He was initially put under surveillance alongside Horia Sima and other high-profile Legionnaires in a villa in Berkenbrück, near Berlin.