At a Glance
- 21-year-old John Michael Garza, Jr. charged with supporting ISIS bomb plot
- He handed explosive components to undercover agents on Dec. 22
- Faces up to 20 years in federal prison
- Why it matters: The case shows the FBI’s ongoing effort to thwart domestic terror plots linked to foreign extremist groups.
A 21-year-old from Midlothian, Texas, has been charged with providing bomb-making materials to undercover agents who pretended to be ISIS supporters. The charges stem from a December meeting where he allegedly supplied explosive components and offered instructions on bomb assembly.
The Investigation
Federal authorities began monitoring Garza in mid-October after an undercover New York City Police Department agent noticed his social media activity. Garza had followed several pro-ISIS accounts and commented on their posts, prompting the agent to initiate contact.
Garza, who was already a known pro-ISIS sympathizer, sent small amounts of cryptocurrency to the agent, believing it would support ISIS causes and help purchase weapons.
The NYPD agent then connected Garza to another undercover agent posing as an ISIS supporter. Garza met with this agent on Dec. 22, where he handed over several explosive components.
The Charges
After the meeting, Garza was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He is scheduled for a probable-cause and detention hearing on Tuesday.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated:
> “Today’s announcement underscores the FBI’s commitment to combating terrorism and demonstrates our continuous work to disrupt and thwart terrorist plots against the American public.”
United States Department of Justice said:
> “During the meeting, Garza described how to mix the components and offered to send an instructional video explaining how to build the bomb.”
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Mid-Oct | Monitoring begins after social media activity |
| Dec. 22 | Meeting with undercover agent; explosives handed over |
| Tuesday | Probable-cause hearing scheduled |
The case underscores the FBI’s strategy of using undercover operations to intercept potential domestic terror threats linked to foreign extremist networks.
Key Takeaways
- 21-year-old charged with providing bomb materials to undercover agents
- Faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted
- FBI’s use of undercover agents highlights ongoing domestic counterterrorism efforts
The charges serve as a warning that individuals attempting to aid terrorist organizations will face serious legal consequences.
By Fiona Z. Merriweather | News Of Austin
