Overview
- John Michael Garza Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, is charged by federal complaint with attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
- Prosecutors say he brought bomb-making materials to a Dec. 22 meeting with an undercover agent, explained how to mix components, and offered an instructional video, before being arrested as he left.
- Investigators say online chats in November and December showed adherence to ISIS ideology, small cryptocurrency transfers, and the sharing of official ISIS media releases.
- The probe began in October when an NYPD undercover flagged a social account following pro-ISIS pages, leading to a joint operation by the FBI’s Dallas and New York field offices and local police in Dallas, Midlothian, and Euless.
- Garza appeared in court on Dec. 23, and a probable cause and detention hearing is set for Dec. 30 as senior DOJ and FBI officials publicly praised the preventive operation.