Filipino American veteran indicted for terrorist plot

Mark Steven Domingo inn his current mug shot, left, and a file photo, right.

A federal grand jury has indicted a Filipino American for his role in planning to bomb a rally in Long Beach last month for the purpose of causing mass casualties. 

Mark Steven Domingo, 26, of Reseda, California, a former U.S. Army infantryman who was deployed to Afghanistan, was previously arrested on a criminal complaint in this case. The indictment returned Wednesday (May 22) formally charges him with providing material support to terrorists and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted, he would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The suspect, who has been in federal custody since his arrest last month, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on May 31 in United States District Court.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Domingo, in online posts and in conversations with an FBI source, plotted for violent jihad, a desire to seek revenge 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 last month. As part of the plot, Domingo asked a confederate – who actually was working with the FBI as part of the investigation – to find a bomb-maker. Domingo then purchased and provided to the confederate and the bomb-maker, who was actually an undercover officer, several hundred nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs.

Leading up to the planned attack, Domingo called for another event similar to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas to give Americans “a taste of the terror they gladly spread all over the world,” the complaint states. Following an attack on Muslims in New Zealand on March 15, Domingo wrote in an online post, “there must be retribution,” according to the complaint.

On April 26, Domingo received what he thought was a live bomb, but in fact was an inert explosive device that was delivered by the undercover law enforcement officer. According to the criminal complaint, after receiving the bomb, Domingo drove his confederate and the undercover officer to Long Beach to scout the location Domingo planned to attack. While there, Domingo discussed finding the most crowded areas in order to kill the most people. Domingo was arrested shortly after returning from scouting the intended attack location.

Domingo served in Afghanistan from September 2012 to January 2013 and was discharged from the Army shortly thereafter, according to the LA Times. The details are murky but apparently he was involved in a violent incident while in Afghanistan. His discharge fromthe service was not an honorable discharge.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. arrests man suspected of planning terrorist act in California

COURTESY OF FBI

The suspect terrorist Mark Steve Domingo was arrested Friday.

A Filipino American veteran was arrested for plotting to explode a bomb in retaliation for the mass killings at New Zealand mosques.

Mark Steven Domingo, 26, of Reseda, California, was arrested Friday (April 28) night after driving to Long Beach, Calif. to plant what he believed was a live bomb.

The bomb was an inert explosive device that was delivered to Domingo by an undercover law enforcement officer as part of an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

“Domingo, a former U.S. Army Infantryman, wanted to use improvised explosive devices against innocent civilians and he selected components that would make the bombs even more deadly to the victims he targeted,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers.

At a Monday (April 29) hearing, Judge Paul Abrams ordered Domingo to be held in prison without bail while he awaits trial, saying he posts a significant risk to the safety of the public. Domingo will next appear in court on May 31 to enter his plea. 

Domingo, who served in Afghanistan, faces federal charges in a terrorist plot in which he planned to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED) for the purpose of causing mass casualties. If found guilty, he could face 15 years in federal prison.

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed to ABS-CBN News that Domingo is of Filipino descent.

According to a 30-page court documents, since early March, Domingo “planned and took steps to manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder.”

In online posts and in conversations with an FBI source, Domingo expressed support for violent jihad, a desire to seek retribution for attacks against Muslims, and a willingness to become a martyr, according to the affidavit. 

As part of the plot, Domingo asked his confederate – who actually was cooperating with the FBI as part of the investigation – to find a bomb-maker, and Domingo last week purchased several hundred nails to be used as shrapnel inside the IED.

“Domingo said he specifically bought three-inch nails because they would be long enough to penetrate the human body and puncture internal organs,” the affidavit states.

After Domingo provided the nails to the undercover operative for use in the construction of the bomb, Domingo sent a message on Thursday indicating that the operation was to proceed, according to the affidavit. On Friday evening, the undercover operative delivered multiple inert devices, which Domingo believed were weapons of mass destruction. 

After inspecting the devices he traveled to a park in Long Beach to surveil the park where a white nationalist rally that was supposed to take place the next day. That is when Domingo was taken into custody. Because of wide spread publicity, a massive counter-rally was planned in opposition to the white nationalist rally which never materialized.

According to the criminal complaint, Domingo posted an online video professing his Muslim faith on March 2, and the next day made another posting in which he said “America needs another Vegas event” (referring to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada) that would give “them a taste of the terror they gladly spread all over the world.” Following an attack on a mosque in New Zealand on March 13, Domingo posted, “there must be retribution.”

In response to the postings, an FBI “confidential human source” (CHS) began an online conversation that resulted in a series of in-person meetings with Domingo. During the first meeting, on March 18, “Domingo discussed with the source different targets for an attack, including Jews, police officers, churches, and a military facility,” according to the affidavit.

During subsequent meetings outlined in the affidavit, Domingo continued to express his desire to commit a terrorist act, at points contemplating a drive-by shooting with a modified AK-47-style rifle he owned, and at other points considering the use of an IED. 

The plan to target the white nationalist rally came into shape during an April 19 meeting, when Domingo arrived to a meeting with the cooperating source armed with an AK-47-style rifle “to show you that I’m serious,” according to the complaint. During that meeting, Domingo referenced the Boston Marathon bombing and asked the source to find a person to construct an IED that he said could cause 50 casualties.

Domingo's younger sibling James, said his brother converted to Islam late last year and attended a nearby mosque.

James Domingo said he and his older brother lived with an aunt and grandmother at the Reseda residence. He said his family are taken by surprise by the charges against his brother. 

“The whole thing is surprising to the Domingo family and all the relatives,” he said as he stood outside his Reseda house, talking with reporters. “We complied and they (the FBI) came in and searched the house.”

James Domingo said he would “wait for the evidence to be laid out on the table” before making any conclusions.

“I hope this dies down eventually and hopefully my brother will be found innocent of this,” he said.

If convicted of the charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, Domingo would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

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