- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Money to ISIS, Possessing Homemade Bomb
Villanueva faces up to 35 years in prison for terrorism and firearms charges.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:07pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A 29-year-old Long Beach man named Mark Lorenzo Villanueva has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and being a felon in possession of a firearm after authorities found a homemade bomb in his home. Villanueva allegedly sent over $1,600 to an individual he believed was an ISIS fighter in Syria and discussed conducting operations in the U.S.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the challenges law enforcement faces in detecting and preventing individuals from providing financial and other support to foreign terrorist organizations. It also raises concerns about the ability of convicted felons to obtain dangerous materials and weapons.
The details
According to his plea agreement, Villanueva began messaging someone claiming to be an ISIS fighter in Syria in February 2026 and sent over $1,600 to that person, knowing the money would be used for ammunition, weapons, and other supplies. Villanueva also discussed conducting ISIS operations in the U.S. When authorities searched his home in August, they found a homemade bomb containing large amounts of ball bearings, nails, screws, and nuts. As a convicted felon, Villanueva was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
- Villanueva began messaging the purported ISIS fighter in Syria in February 2026.
- Villanueva sent over $1,600 to the individual in Syria.
- Authorities searched Villanueva's home and found the homemade bomb in August 2026.
- Villanueva pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026.
- Villanueva is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2026.
The players
Mark Lorenzo Villanueva
A 29-year-old Long Beach man who pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of California
The federal prosecutor's office that announced Villanueva's guilty plea and charges.
What’s next
Villanueva is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2026 and faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.
The takeaway
This case underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement, communities, and technology companies to identify and stop the flow of funds and support to terrorist organizations, even from within the United States.
