Federal agents have apprehended a man in California over accusations of making a series of payments to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as announced by the FBI in Los Angeles on Friday.
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, age 28, faces charges for attempting to furnish material support to a foreign terrorist group, an offense that bears a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Villanueva, who lives in Long Beach, holds the status of lawful permanent resident of the Philippines, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“Mr. Villanueva is purported to have monetarily aided and pledged fidelity to a terror organization that poses a threat to the United States and our interests globally,” Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Patrick Grandy, conveyed in a statement.
FBI agents arrested Mark Lorenzo Villanueva for allegedly sending a dozen payments to ISIS. (FBI Los Angeles)
“It’s an honor to fight and die for our faith. It’s the best way to go to heaven,” he allegedly said at one point.
“Someday soon, I’ll be joining,” he also said.
Villanueva informed another combatant that he possessed a bomb and knives. Upon his arrest on Friday morning, the FBI discovered what seemed to be a bomb in Villanueva’s bedroom.
In February, Villanueva proposed sending funds to one of the ISIS operatives and inquired if the money would “cover your equipment and your weapons.” He also talked about transferring the money through a go-between.
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva allegedly told one of the self-identified ISIS fighters that he wanted to fight for ISIS himself. (Reuters/Mary F. Calvert)
According to Western Union records, Villanueva allegedly sent 12 payments totaling $1,615 over the course of five months to two intermediaries who accessed the money overseas.
“Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,” Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said. “We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.”
