Texas man supplied bomb-making materials to undercover FBI agent he believed was ‘ISIS brother’

The 21-year-old came under the scanner in mid-October 2025 after an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed a particular social media account that followed several other pro-ISIS accounts and wrote a comment on a pro-ISIS post.

When the NYPD undercover engaged with Garza on social media, Garza described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas.

Provided money, explosives

In their continuing conversations throughout November and December, Garza shared that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and sent the undercover multiple official media releases from the terror outfit.

Garza also paid the undercover small sums of cryptocurrency in November and December 2025, believing that he was supporting ISIS causes, including buying firearms and other materials.

On December 22, Garza met the ‘ISIS Brother’, and during the meeting, he described to the undercover agent how to mix explosives he provided and offered to share an instructional video on bomb-making.

Garza was arrested shortly after he left the meeting. If convicted, Garza could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

“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,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

“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.”