A Texas man allegedly tried to offer bomb-making supplies to an agent posing as an ISIS member after his terrorist-sympathizing social media account was found throughout an undercover NYPD investigation, authorities introduced Monday.
John Michael Garza Jr., 21, allegedly introduced bomb-making supplies to a gathering with an spy posing as an ISIS “brother” final Monday, in response to the US Division of Justice.
Through the assembly, Garza allegedly described easy methods to combine the bomb-making parts and even supplied to ship an instruction video on easy methods to construct the explosive, authorities stated.
Officers had been first alerted to Garza in mid-October when an undercover NYPD worker seen a social media account that had adopted a number of pro-ISIS accounts and penned a put up in assist of the terrorist group, in response to federal authorities.
When the NYPD undercover worker contacted him on the account decided to be Garza’s, he described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican American residing in Texas.
In continued conversations between the undercover officer and Garza, the Texan repeatedly shared that he “ascribed to the ISIS ideology” and despatched a number of official ISIS media releases, the DOJ added.
A few of the media releases included pictures of explosions, masked males, and a bomb-making tutorial video led by a gloved ISIS member, in response to pictures supplied by the feds.
Garza then allegedly paid the undercover worker small sums of cryptocurrency in November and December — believing he was supporting ISIS by shopping for firearms and different supplies, officers stated.
He started telling the spy about his plans to purchase supplies to make explosives. He meant to purchase the substances and believed he would then meet with one other ISIS-supporting particular person — the spy whom he met with on Dec. 22 earlier than his arrest.
Garza has since been charged in a federal grievance with trying to supply materials assist or assets to a chosen international terrorist group, officers stated.
“This case is a testomony to the unbelievable work of our federal brokers, who work tirelessly to avoid wasting American lives,” Legal professional Normal Pamela Bondi stated in a press release.
“ISIS’s toxic ideology have to be ripped out root and stem — anybody who tries to commit violence on ISIS’s behalf can be discovered, arrested, and prosecuted. You can not conceal from us.”
The investigation was performed by the FBI’s Dallas Subject Workplace and the NYPD, with extra help from the FBI’s New York Subject Workplace, Dallas Police Division, Midlothian Police Division, and Euless Police Division.
“In the present day’s prices illustrate that the threats of terrorism and extremist violence towards our nation are nonetheless very actual,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated in a press release.
“The NYPD stays dedicated to figuring out, disrupting, and dismantling these networks at their supply – earlier than they’ll attain their murderous ends. And any one that places American lives in danger will face justice and be held accountable to the fullest extent of the legislation,” Tisch added.
“I wish to thank our undercover investigators within the NYPD, in addition to our legislation enforcement companions within the FBI and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, for his or her distinctive work on this case.”
Garza appeared in courtroom on Dec. 23 and is slated to return for a possible trigger and detention listening to on Tuesday.
If convicted, he faces a most of 20 years in federal jail.
“In the present day’s announcement underscores the FBI’s dedication to combatting terrorism and demonstrates our steady work to disrupt and thwart terrorist plots towards the American public,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a press release.
“Let this function a warning to those that plan to conduct assaults towards america on behalf of terrorist organizations – you may be delivered to justice.”
