Photo: Alamy
A 21-year-old Texas man was charged with international terrorism after federal investigators said he provided bomb components and money to people he believed were working with the Islamic State group, officials announced Monday.
John Michael Garza Jr., of Midlothian, was arrested Dec. 22 after allegedly delivering explosive materials to an individual he believed was an ISIS “brother,” according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors said Garza was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“The @FBI and our partners have arrested a 21-year-old alleged ISIS sympathizer in Texas following a terrorism investigation into attempts to provide bomb-making components and financial support to a designated foreign terrorist organization,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X. “The subject allegedly shared ISIS propaganda, sent cryptocurrency believing it would fund terrorist activity, and attempted to deliver materials intended for explosive devices.
“This is radical Islamic terrorism, and it was identified and stopped. Great work by our FBI teams @FBIDallas and great law enforcement partners,” Patel said.
Authorities said Garza first came to investigators’ attention in October when an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed his social media account following several pro-ISIS pages. Officials said Garza commented on extremist posts and expressed support for the group’s ideology.
The undercover officer later communicated with Garza, who allegedly sent small amounts of cryptocurrency, believing the funds would help ISIS purchase firearms and other supplies. Garza also discussed plans to make explosives, officials said.
When the two met in person, Garza allegedly handed over bomb-making materials, explained how to combine them with nails to cause maximum harm and offered to send an instructional video on building explosives, according to the complaint.
Garza was arrested shortly after leaving the meeting site, officials said. If convicted, Garza faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The report comes shortly after President Trump said the United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, saying the operation was aimed at militants responsible for attacks on civilians, particularly Christians.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday evening.
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he wrote.