California man admits to financing ISIS fighters abroad in terrorism case

Man Pleads Guilty to Supporting ISIS in Southern California

A man from Southern California who funneled money to ISIS fighters and created homemade bombs has pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges, as announced by the Justice Department.

Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 29, admitted guilt to one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and another for being a felon with a firearm. He has been in federal custody since his arrest back in August 2025.

According to the plea deal, Villanueva started using social media to communicate in February 2025 with someone claiming to be an ISIS fighter in Syria. This person guided him on sending money overseas.

Prosecutors allege that over a few months, Villanueva transferred more than $1,600, thinking it would be used for weapons, ammunition, and other supplies supporting ISIS operations. He even discussed the possibility of conducting ISIS operations within the U.S.

FBI Los Angeles’s Acting Deputy Director Patrick Grundy remarked that Villanueva allegedly provided financial backing and showed allegiance to terrorist organizations targeting the U.S. and its global interests. He credited the Joint Terrorism Task Force for thwarting further support for ISIS.

Records from the court indicate Villanueva engaged with two individuals he believed were ISIS fighters and expressed a desire to fight for the group himself. He reportedly mentioned, “It’s an honor to die fighting for your faith. It’s the best way to get to heaven. I’ll be joining in soon.”

Villanueva also informed one ISIS contact that he had a bomb and a knife. When FBI agents searched his home in Long Beach in August 2025, they found a homemade explosive device packed with ball bearings, nails, screws, and other metal fragments in his bedroom.

Prosecutors noted that Villanueva knew the device was classified as a firearm and a destructive device under federal law, and it wasn’t registered. He was legally barred from owning firearms due to a felony stalking conviction from 2017 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Villanueva reportedly made 12 money transfers through Western Union, totaling $1,615, to intermediaries abroad over five months.

Facing up to 20 years in federal prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years for the firearms charge, Villanueva is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne Huang on June 17.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri highlighted that supporting terrorist groups poses significant risks to national security, stating that the government will aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone aiding enemies, whether domestically or internationally.