Texas man charged with attempting to support ISIS

A Texas man has been federally charged with an international terrorism offense after authorities said he attempted to provide bomb-making components and financial support to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the U.S. Justice Department.

John Michael Garza Jr., of Midlothian, Texas, allegedly brought bomb-making materials to what he believed was an ISIS supporter, but who was in fact an undercover agent, authorities said on Monday.

Prosecutors said Garza explained how to assemble the components and offered to send an instructional video on building the device before he was arrested shortly after leaving the meeting.

According to the federal complaint, the investigation began in mid-October 2025, when an undercover New York Police Department employee identified a social media account later linked to Garza that followed pro-ISIS accounts and interacted with extremist content.

Authorities said Garza later told the undercover officer that he supported ISIS ideology and shared official ISIS media releases during conversations that continued through November and December.

Prosecutors said Garza also sent small amounts of cryptocurrency during that period, believing the funds would support ISIS-related activities, including the purchase of weapons and materials.

Investigators said he later discussed plans to acquire explosive ingredients and agreed to meet with individuals he believed were connected to ISIS.

“The subject allegedly shared ISIS propaganda, sent cryptocurrency believing it would fund terrorist activity, and attempted to deliver materials intended for explosive devices,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post. “This is radical Islamic terrorism, and it was identified and stopped.”

Garza made his initial court appearance last week before a U.S. magistrate judge. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.