Filipino Permanent Resident Mark Lorenzo Villanueva Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 29, a Filipino permanent resident from Long Beach, California, has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and illegally possessing a homemade explosive device, according to U.S. federal authorities.
Court records show that Villanueva admitted sending more than $1,600 through multiple transactions to individuals he believed were ISIS fighters overseas. Prosecutors said he understood the funds would be used to purchase weapons, ammunition, and other supplies.
During a federal search of his residence, investigators also recovered a homemade bomb allegedly packed with nails, ball bearings, and other metal fragments capable of causing serious harm.
The case has now moved into the sentencing phase following Villanueva’s guilty plea on January 27, 2026. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2026, and could face a lengthy prison sentence under U.S. federal law. (META)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.