A Midlothian man was arrested and accused of trying to provide bomb materials to a person he believed was a member of a terrorist group, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
Court records show John Michael Garza Jr., 21, was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to the complaint, Garza met with an undercover FBI agent he thought was a member of ISIS. Garza allegedly brought several "bomb-making materials" to the meeting, explained how to mix the items and offered to send a video with instructions on how to build the bomb, the complaint states.
He was arrested shortly after the meeting, according to a press release Monday.
“The increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement. “This operation is but one example highlighting the necessity of vigilant observation and swift action to halt what could have been a devastating outcome."
Garza’s court-appointed attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.
The complaint alleges the FBI Dallas Division in October was alerted by the New York Police Department about Garza’s online communication with one of their undercover officers pretending to be a member of ISIS in Iraq.
Garza’s Instagram account followed pro-ISIS accounts and commented on a pro-ISIS post, according to the complaint.
The undercover officer and Garza allegedly had several conversations between October and December, during which the complaint claims Garza sent multiple official ISIS media releases, including one of a suicide bombing. It also states Garza shared a photo of a computer setup at his home, which allegedly displayed a photo of an ISIS media outlet.
Garza also offered buy materials and ingredients for bombs for the undercover officer when he told Garza he had recently purchased some “explosives,” according to the complaint.
The complaint claims Garza agreed to meet with an ISIS member — in reality an FBI agent — last Monday to transfer the materials to make a bomb. When the two met in person, Garza allegedly explained how to mix some of the ingredients together and sent the instructional video to the undercover FBI agent before he was arrested and his home raided, the complaint states.
Garza is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday.
Penelope Rivera is KERA's breaking news reporter. Got a tip? Email Penelope Rivera at privera@kera.org.
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