A man from Southern California was taken into custody on Friday on allegations of providing financial support to and expressing allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS, according to federal prosecutors.
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, a 28-year-old resident of Long Beach, reportedly engaged with two individuals claiming to be ISIS fighters via social media, as stated by the U.S. attorney’s office. In his online interactions, he purportedly pledged his loyalty and conveyed a desire to join the terrorist group in combat.
“Fighting and dying for our faith is an honor. It’s the best way to reach heaven,” Villanueva reportedly communicated to one of the individuals, as per prosecutors. “I’ll be joining you soon.”
In February, it was reported that Villanueva offered to send money to one of the identified fighters through an intermediary, inquiring if the funds could be used to support ISIS. Over five months, he allegedly transferred a total of $1,615 through two intermediaries abroad, as claimed by authorities, referencing Western Union records.
He also mentioned possession of a bomb and knives in his online discussions, and the FBI seized what appeared to be a bomb from his bedroom during his arrest, authorities indicated.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Villanueva is a lawful permanent resident from the Philippines. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a charge that could result in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
“Contributing to a terrorist organization, whether domestically or internationally, poses a significant threat to our national security,” stated U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “We will proactively track down and prosecute anyone who offers aid or solace to our adversaries.”
The FBI is currently conducting an investigation into the matter.
