A man in Long Beach, California, has been arrested for allegedly sending money to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The arrest of Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, occurred on March 15, 2024, as part of an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice. Villanueva, a permanent resident originally from the Philippines, faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
According to the Department of Justice, Villanueva was in contact with two individuals claiming to be ISIS fighters through social media earlier this year. In these communications, he allegedly expressed his desire to support the terrorist group and offered to send financial aid. He reportedly wrote, “It’s an honor to fight and die for our faith. It’s the best way to go to heaven. Someday soon, I’ll be joining.”
Over a span of five months, records from Western Union show that Villanueva sent a total of 12 payments amounting to $1,615 to two intermediaries who transferred the funds overseas. The FBI’s investigation revealed troubling evidence during Villanueva’s arrest. Agents discovered what appeared to be a bomb in his bedroom, as shown in images shared on the FBI’s official social media accounts.
Patrick Grandy, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, stated, “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.”
This case is not isolated. Earlier this year, the FBI arrested Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former member of the Michigan Army National Guard. Said allegedly attempted to execute a mass shooting at a U.S. military base in Michigan on behalf of ISIS. On the planned day of the attack, he was apprehended after launching a drone near the military installation.
Said had reportedly intended to strike the Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, located in a suburb of Detroit, which oversees the Army’s supply chain for tanks. Prosecutors allege that he offered to assist undercover law enforcement officers in executing the attack by providing training in firearms use and constructing Molotov cocktails, along with supplying armor-piercing ammunition.
Both cases underscore the ongoing threat posed by individuals seeking to support ISIS and similar organizations. The FBI continues to monitor and investigate potential threats, reiterating its commitment to public safety and national security.
