Alleged ISIS Sympathizer Who Attempted to Provide Bomb Materials Federally Charged With International Terrorism Offense
Dec 29, 2025 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
An alleged ISIS sympathizer has been federally charged with an international terrorism offense after providing bomb components and money to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Defendants
- John Michael Garza, Jr. — age 21 · Midlothian, Texas · charged
Charges
Attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization
Max: 20 years in prisonJohn Michael Garza, Jr.· charged by federal complaint
Financial actions
- payment — Small sums of cryptocurrency paid to an undercover in November and December 2025, believing he was supporting ISIS causes including buying firearms and other materials
From the announcement
“This case is a testament to the incredible work of our federal agents, who work tirelessly to save American lives. ISIS's poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem — anyone who tries to commit violence on ISIS's behalf will be found, arrested, and prosecuted. You cannot hide from us.”
“Today's announcement underscores the FBI's commitment to combatting terrorism and demonstrates our continuous work to disrupt and thwart terrorist plots against the American public. Let this serve as a warning to those who plan to conduct attacks against the United States on behalf of terrorist organizations– you will be brought to justice.”
“The increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped. 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.”
“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. Protecting the Homeland is a top priority for the FBI. This arrest demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding our communities from terrorism.”
“Today's charges illustrate that the threats of terrorism and extremist violence against our nation are still very real. The NYPD remains committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling these networks at their source – before they can reach their murderous ends. And any person who puts American lives at risk will face justice and be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank our undercover investigators in the NYPD, as well as our law enforcement partners in the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, for their exceptional work on this case.”
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Northern District of Texas
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.