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Army veteran who converted to Islam convicted in plot to bomb California rally
Mark Steven Domingo openly supported violent jihad
Mark Steven Domingo (FBI)
August 13, 2021
byLaw Officer
LONG BEACH, Calif. — A U.S. Army veteran who had expressed support for violent jihad was convicted Wednesday by a federal jury for his role in attempting to bomb a 2019 rally in Long Beach, California, as retribution for attacks against Muslims around the world.
Mark Steven Domingo, 28, was found guilty of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Consequently, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison, Daily Wire reported.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes participating state, local, and federal agencies.
Domingo has been in federal custody since his arrest in April 2019, when, according to federal authorities, he “received what he thought were two live bombs, but were actually inert explosive devices delivered by an undercover law enforcement officer.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California released the following details in a press statement:
Army veteran who converted to Islam convicted in plot to bomb California rally
Mark Steven Domingo openly supported violent jihad
Mark Steven Domingo (FBI)
August 13, 2021
byLaw Officer
LONG BEACH, Calif. — A U.S. Army veteran who had expressed support for violent jihad was convicted Wednesday by a federal jury for his role in attempting to bomb a 2019 rally in Long Beach, California, as retribution for attacks against Muslims around the world.
Mark Steven Domingo, 28, was found guilty of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Consequently, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison, Daily Wire reported.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes participating state, local, and federal agencies.
Domingo has been in federal custody since his arrest in April 2019, when, according to federal authorities, he “received what he thought were two live bombs, but were actually inert explosive devices delivered by an undercover law enforcement officer.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California released the following details in a press statement:
The investigation into Domingo was prompted by his online posts and conversations in an online forum in which he expressed support for violent jihad, a desire to seek retribution for attacks against Muslims, and a willingness to become a martyr. After considering various attacks – including targeting Jewish people, churches, and police officers – Domingo decided to bomb a rally scheduled to take place in Long Beach in April 2019.
As part of the plot, Domingo asked a confederate – who actually was working with the FBI as part of the investigation – to invite a bomb-maker into the scheme. Domingo then purchased and provided to the confederate and the bomb-maker – who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer – several hundred 3½-inch nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs. Domingo specifically chose those nails because they were long enough to penetrate organs in the human body.
Leading up to the attack, Domingo called for another event similar to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Following an attack on Muslims in New Zealand in March 2019, Domingo called for retribution in an online post.
Domingo selected the Long Beach rally as his target and, in April 2019, drove his confederate and the undercover officer to Long Beach to scout the location he planned to attack. While there, Domingo discussed finding the most crowded areas so he could kill the most people. On April 26, 2019, Domingo received what he thought were two live bombs, but were actually inert explosive devices delivered by an undercover law enforcement officer. He was arrested that same day with one of the bombs in his hands.
Read more HERE
As part of the plot, Domingo asked a confederate – who actually was working with the FBI as part of the investigation – to invite a bomb-maker into the scheme. Domingo then purchased and provided to the confederate and the bomb-maker – who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer – several hundred 3½-inch nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs. Domingo specifically chose those nails because they were long enough to penetrate organs in the human body.
Leading up to the attack, Domingo called for another event similar to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Following an attack on Muslims in New Zealand in March 2019, Domingo called for retribution in an online post.
Domingo selected the Long Beach rally as his target and, in April 2019, drove his confederate and the undercover officer to Long Beach to scout the location he planned to attack. While there, Domingo discussed finding the most crowded areas so he could kill the most people. On April 26, 2019, Domingo received what he thought were two live bombs, but were actually inert explosive devices delivered by an undercover law enforcement officer. He was arrested that same day with one of the bombs in his hands.
Read more HERE