The FBI arrested John Michael Garza, Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, and charged him with trying to send funds and bomb making material to ISIS.
“The FBI worked alongside our law enforcement partners to quickly arrest an individual who intended to provide bomb making materials to a foreign terrorist organization,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “Protecting the Homeland is a top priority for the FBI. This arrest demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding our communities from terrorism.”
In October 2025, an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed suspicious behavior on Garza’s social media accounts.
From the press release:
According to the complaint, in mid-October 2025, an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed a particular social media account—later determined to be Garza’s—that followed several other pro-ISIS accounts and that wrote a comment on a pro-ISIS post. When the NYPD undercover engaged with Garza on social media, Garza described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas. In their continuing conversations throughout November and December, Garza shared that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and sent the undercover multiple official ISIS media releases. Garza paid the undercover small sums of cryptocurrency in November and December 2025, believing that he was supporting ISIS causes, including buying firearms and other materials.—As alleged, Garza began telling the undercover of his plans to buy materials to make explosives. Garza told the undercover that he would buy the ingredients and agreed to meet with a second individual who Garza believed to support ISIS activities on Monday, December 22, 2025. At the meeting, Garza handed the FBI undercover several explosive components. As alleged, Garza explained how to mix the ingredients and surround them with nails, and he offered to send the undercover an instructional bomb-building video.
These are the photos that Garza gave the undercover employee:
“The increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This operation is but one example highlighting the necessity of vigilant observation and swift action to halt what could have been a devastating outcome. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to take prompt action against those attempting to carry out alleged terrorist missions.”
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