(Image Credit: IMAGN) FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers carried out a series of enforcement operations in Los Angeles in late-February, 2025.
Long Beach, California – A 28-year-old man from Long Beach, California, has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly sending money to members of ISIS, according to the Department of Justice.
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from the Philippines, was taken into custody Friday by the FBI. He is accused of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors allege that Villanueva used social media to communicate with individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters. In those conversations, he reportedly pledged allegiance to the group and expressed his desire to fight alongside them. “It’s an honor to fight and die for our faith,” Villanueva allegedly wrote. “It’s the best way to go to heaven. Someday soon, I’ll be joining.”
According to investigators, Villanueva followed through on his statements by sending 12 payments totaling $1,615 over five months to two intermediaries, who accessed the funds overseas. The transactions were documented through Western Union records, the DOJ said.
When agents arrested Villanueva, they found what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in his bedroom. Images of the object were later shared by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office on its official social media accounts. Officials did not confirm whether the device was operational.
“Mr. Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the United States and our interests around the world,” said Patrick Grandy, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of individuals in the United States suspected of ties to foreign extremist organizations. Earlier this year, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, 19-year-old Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, was arrested in connection with a plot to attack a military base on behalf of ISIS. Prosecutors say Said planned a mass shooting and had attempted to provide weapons training and incendiary devices to undercover agents posing as co-conspirators.
Both cases remain under investigation by the FBI. Villanueva is currently in federal custody, and no court date has yet been announced.
