Overview
- Federal prosecutors say John Michael Garza Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization in the Northern District of Texas.
- According to the complaint, Garza met an undercover FBI agent on Dec. 22, handed over bomb-making components, explained how to mix them with nails for shrapnel, and offered an instructional video before being arrested.
- Investigators say the probe began in mid-October when an NYPD undercover identified a social account linked to Garza that followed pro-ISIS content and later received official ISIS media releases from him.
- Authorities allege Garza sent small cryptocurrency payments in November and December believing they would fund ISIS causes, including firearms purchases, and that a post-arrest search recovered an item he described as a detonator.
- Garza made an initial court appearance on Dec. 23, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted, and remains presumed innocent as the multi-agency case proceeds.