A Texas man was charged in federal court after he tried to offer material support to ISIS through an undercover agent, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
John Michael Garza, Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, faces charges of attempting to provide material assistance or resources to a designated foreign terrorist group.
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Speaking with Fox News Digital, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Garza “took concrete steps toward violent jihad, fundraising for terrorists [and] building explosive components.”
“The FBI identified the threat early, tracked it aggressively, and shut it down before anyone was harmed,” Patel said. “Keeping Americans safe is our mission, and we’re executing it every day.”
According to the DOJ, Garza brought bomb-making components to a meeting on December 22 with an undercover agent masquerading as an “ISIS brother.”
“During the meeting, Garza described how to mix the components and offered to send an instructional video explaining how to build the bomb,” according to the DOJ. “Law enforcement agents arrested Garza shortly after he left the meeting.”
According to the DOJ, Garza paid the undercover agent small sums of cryptocurrency “believing that he was supporting ISIS causes, including buying firearms and other materials.”
Police detected Garza when they observed him following pro-ISIS accounts and commenting on a pro-ISIS post.
“When the NYPD undercover engaged with Garza on social media, Garza described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas,” the DOJ said.
“In their continuing conversations throughout November and December, Garza shared that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and sent the undercover multiple official ISIS media releases.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the case a “testament to the incredible work of our federal agents, who work tirelessly to save American lives.”
“ISIS’s poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem — anyone who tries to commit violence on ISIS’s behalf will be found, arrested, and prosecuted,” she said. “You cannot hide from us.”
