FBI Arrests Man for Alleged Support of ISIS

The FBI’s Los Angeles office announced on Friday the arrest of a man suspected of attempting to provide assistance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The individual, Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, aged 28, faces charges relating to support for foreign terrorist organizations.

Villanueva, a legal permanent resident originally from the Philippines, resides in Long Beach, California. According to a statement from Patrick Grandi, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Villanueva purportedly expressed loyalty to terrorist groups that pose threats to U.S. interests both domestically and globally.

“Thanks to the proactive efforts of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, we have successfully arrested Mr. Villanueva today, stopping further support and spread of ISIS ideology,” Grandi said.

The affidavit detailed that Villanueva communicated through social media with two individuals identifying themselves as ISIS fighters. During these exchanges, he expressed his wish to support their activities and even offered to send funds.

At one point, he declared a desire to fight for himself. Villanueva went as far as suggesting to an ISIS member that he planned to send money to help with their “equipment and weapons.” It’s, uh—I think it’s concerning how openly he discussed these intentions.

He also mentioned having a bomb and a knife, and when arrested, the FBI found what appeared to be a bomb in his bedroom.

Over the span of five months, records indicated he had sent $1,615 through Western Union to intermediaries who could access the funds abroad. This raises quite a few questions about how widespread his connections might be.

U.S. attorney Bill Essay emphasized the seriousness of supporting terrorist organizations. “Whether at home or abroad, this poses a significant risk to our national security. We will seek to confront and hold accountable anyone who provides aid to those who threaten us,” he asserted.