A 21-year-old Texas man is facing federal international terrorism charges after authorities say he delivered bomb-making components to an individual he believed was an operative for the Islamic State (ISIS).
John Michael Garza, Jr., of Midlothian, was arrested last week following a joint operation by the FBI and the New York Police Department (NYPD). According to the federal complaint, the investigation culminated on the evening of Monday, Dec. 22, when Garza met with an undercover agent to hand over materials for an explosive device.
Prosecutors allege that during this meeting, Garza provided specific instructions on how to mix the ingredients and advised the undercover agent to surround the explosive with nails to maximize damage. Garza also reportedly offered to send an instructional video detailing the bomb-building process. He was taken into custody shortly after leaving the meeting.
“ISIS’s poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem — anyone who tries to commit violence on ISIS’s behalf will be found, arrested, and prosecuted,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi regarding the charges. “You cannot hide from us.”
The investigation began in mid-October 2025, when an undercover NYPD employee identified a social media account belonging to Garza that engaged with pro-ISIS content. When the undercover officer made contact, Garza allegedly identified himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas.
Over the next two months, authorities say Garza explicitly expressed adherence to ISIS ideology. He allegedly shared official ISIS media releases with the undercover agent, including images of suicide vehicle bombings and instructional videos on manufacturing explosives. Between November and December, Garza also transferred small amounts of cryptocurrency to the agent, believing the funds would be used to purchase firearms and support the terror group’s operations.
“Today’s announcement underscores the FBI’s commitment to combatting terrorism and demonstrates our continuous work to disrupt and thwart terrorist plots against the American public,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as a warning to those who plan to conduct attacks against the United States on behalf of terrorist organizations – you will be brought to justice.”
Garza has been charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He made his initial court appearance on Dec. 23 before a U.S. magistrate judge. A probable cause and detention hearing was scheduled for Dec. 30.
If convicted, Garza faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
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