During the investigation, US authorities identified the use of cryptocurrencies as one of the methods to funnel funds to activities that the defendant believed to be linked to the Islamic State. As the US Department of Justice reported, the defendant, John Michael Garza, 21 years old and a resident of Midlothian, Texas, is alleged to have made several payments in digital assets to people who were allegedly part of the terrorist organization, believing that their money would be used to purchase firearms and other materials.
As the Justice Department detailed this Monday, the formal indictment against Garza is for alleged crimes of “international terrorism,” following a covert operation carried out by security forces. The events that sparked the trial occurred on the night of Monday, December 22, when Garza delivered materials for making explosives to a person he was meeting with and whom he believed to be a member – or “brother” – of the Islamic State. However, it turned out that the alleged recipient of these components was an undercover police agent who was part of the joint operation by the prosecutor’s office and the FBI.
The department’s official statement said that during the meeting, Garza not only provided the materials for the bombs, but also explained in detail the process of mixing the components. In addition, he offered to broadcast a video with instructions on how to build explosives. After leaving the meeting, Garza was arrested by authorities, who had been closely monitoring his movements as part of the investigation. According to information released by the Justice Department, the operation was developed as part of a series of earlier communications that began when a New York City police officer discovered a social media account that followed profiles related to the ideology of the Islamic State.
The agent then contacted the user of that account and later determined it was Garza. During their conversations, the defendant introduced himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas and clearly expressed his adherence to the jihadist group’s ideology. Garza repeatedly sent the agent official statements from the Islamic State and transferred small amounts of cryptocurrencies in November and December 2025, believing that these funds would support the purchase of weapons and materials for violent purposes.
The course of the investigation and subsequent arrest were the result of careful tracking of Garza’s online activity and his constant interaction with undercover agents. Federal authorities noted the importance of interagency cooperation to identify and neutralize suspected terrorist threats. The official statement included the words of US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who declared: “The toxic ideology of the Islamic State must be eradicated” and stressed that those who attempt to carry out violent attacks on behalf of this group would be found, arrested and prosecuted and that they could not hide from US authorities.
FBI Director Kash Patel reiterated that message, warning that the case should serve as a warning to those plotting attacks against the United States on behalf of terrorist organizations. “You will be brought to justice,” the official said, according to the Justice Department statement.
After his arrest, Garza appeared before a federal judge. A hearing on the suspicion and detention is scheduled for this Tuesday, in which the responsible judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to order preventive detention and to continue the proceedings against him. If the case is successful and Garza is found guilty of the international terrorism charge, he could face up to 20 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
According to the media, the details of the case and the statements of the authorities involved highlight the role of social media surveillance and covert intelligence services as key tools in the fight against terrorism and threats to internal security. The investigation identified methods for supplying explosives manufacturing components and financing channels, which in this case included the use of digital assets. According to the US Department of Justice, investigators monitored the conversations and transfers that formed the basis for the charges against Garza.
If found guilty, the verdict could set a precedent for how the American justice system responds to acts of providing material support to organizations designated as terrorists. According to the Justice Department, authorities have disclosed that they will continue to conduct operations of this type and that monitoring suspicious activity online is a priority strategy.
About The Author
