Scary photos show bomb wrapped in cellophane found in Cali man's bedroom as his messages to ISIS revealed

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Shocking photographs show what appears to be a homemade bomb wrapped in cellophane, reportedly recovered from the bedroom of a California man accused of supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, was arrested Friday morning and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization - a felony offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
His arrest comes after federal agents with the FBI 's Joint Terrorism Task Force recovered knives and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device inside his Long Beach home.
According to officials, the bomb-like device, discovered in his bedroom, was packed with ball bearings, wrapped in cellophane, and wired with red and black electrical cords.
The horrifying discovery came as investigators also uncovered disturbing messages Villanueva, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from the Philippines, exchanged with individuals he believed to be ISIS fighters.
According to court documents, the 28-year-old used social media to communicate with two individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters.
During these communications, Villanueva discussed his desire to support ISIS, and offered to send money to the ISIS fighters to support their terrorist activities, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
He expressed a desire to join their ranks, writing, 'It's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven,' and later adding, 'Someday soon, I'll be joining.'
Villanueva also allegedly told one of the individuals that he possessed the lethal weapons - a bomb and knives - which authorities later recovered from his home on the 3000 block of Caspian Avenue.
Prosecutors added that the Long Beach resident sent a total of 12 payments, amounting to $1,615, over a five-month span using Western Union, to two intermediaries who accessed the funds overseas.
'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,' Patrick Grandy, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said.
'Thanks to the proactive efforts by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI and our partners safely arrested Mr. Villanueva today and prevented further support and spreading of ISIS ideology.'
Villanueva was also found to have asked one of the individuals back in February if the money he sent would 'cover your equipment and your weapons'.
'Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,' Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.
'We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.'
Following his arrest, Villanueva's neighbors expressed shock at his 'unexpected' behavior, describing their neighbor as quiet and unassuming.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal authorities 'will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies'
'I don't know what to think. It's kind of scary,' Heliodoro Becerra, a neighbor of Villanueva's told KTLA. 'You see your neighbors, but you don't see what they're doing inside their house.'
Although federal authorities allege Villanueva believed he was speaking with ISIS fighters, some experts warn that he may have been communicating with undercover agents.
'There is nothing in the criminal complaint that makes it clear he was actually talking to ISIS,' Hal Kempfer, a retired Marine intelligence officer, told KTLA. 'He could very well have been talking to law enforcement working undercover online.'
Still, Kempfer emphasized the continued risk posed by individuals self-radicalizing from their homes.
'You probably wouldn't notice a neighbor who is self-radicalizing online at night,' he said.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin S. Scott of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force continues to investigate.
Villanueva appeared in a Los Angeles court after his Friday arrest, where he was ordered to be held without bond.
His arraignment is scheduled for August 15 at the Roybal Federal Building.
ISIS, also known as ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is a Sunni jihadist group with a particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims, according to RAND.org.