Long Beach man accused of sending $1,600 to suspected ISIS terrorists pleads guilty

A 29-year-old Long Beach man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending payments to ISIS and possessing a homemade bomb inside his home.

Mark Lorenzo Villanueva pleaded guilty in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom as part of an agreement with prosecutors to one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing was scheduled for June 17, when the lawful permanent resident from the Philippines could face up to 35 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The communication on social media messaging platforms with a person who identified himself as an ISIS fighter living in Syria began in February 2025, according to authorities. Villanueva sent the individual more than $1,600 “with the understanding that the money would be spent on ammunition, weapons, and other supplies in order for ISIS to conduct operations,” the DOJ said in a news release.

According to Western Union records, Villanueva sent about a dozen payments totaling $1,615 during a five-month period, prosecutors said.

Villanueva also talked about operations for ISIS in the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“It’s an honor to fight and die for our faith. It’s the best way to go to heaven,” Villanueva allegedly told the purported ISIS members.

Authorities searched Villanueva’s Southern California home in August and found a manufactured bomb packed with ball bearings and other metal objects, such as nails, screws and nuts, the DOJ said. At the time, Villanueva already had a conviction in Los Angeles County Superior Court of felony stalking and was prohibited from possessing any firearm, according to prosecutors.

He has been in federal custody since August 2025.