Federal agents have detained a man in California on allegations he sent a dozen payments to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the FBI Los Angeles said on Friday.
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, is charged with attempting to offer material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Villanueva lives in Long Beach and is a lawful permanent resident of the Philippines.
“Mr. Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the United States and our interests around the world,” Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Patrick Grandy, said in a statement.
“Thanks to the proactive efforts by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI and our partners safely arrested Mr. Villanueva today and prevented further support and spreading of ISIS ideology,” he continued.
According to an affidavit, Villanueva utilized social media to communicate with two individuals who were described as ISIS militants. During their chats, Villanueva expressed his desire to help ISIS and offered to provide money to the terrorist group’s fighters to aid their actions.
Villanueva apparently informed one of the self-identified ISIS fighters that he wanted to fight for the organization himself.
“It’s an honor to fight and die for our faith. It’s the best way to go to heaven,” he allegedly said at one point.
“Someday soon, I’ll be joining,” he also said.
Villanueva informed the other fighter that he has a bomb and knives. When the FBI apprehended Villanueva on Friday morning, they discovered what seemed to be a bomb in his bedroom.
In February, Villanueva offered to send money to an ISIS warrior, asking whether the money would “cover your equipment and your weapons.” He even proposed transmitting the funds through an intermediary.
According to Western Union records, Villanueva allegedly transmitted 12 payments totaling $1,615 over five months to two intermediates who accessed the funds overseas.
“Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,” Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said. “We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.”
