(ProsperNews.Net) – A Massachusetts man was charged with supporting a terrorist organization when he sent gift cards to an undercover FBI agent he believed was an Islamic State (ISIS) sympathizer. Mateo Ventura was arrested on June 8th after he sent $1,670 worth of gift cards to the undercover agent to help fund a war against the unbelievers.
The 18-year-old also wanted to travel abroad and fight for the terrorist organization. He even purchased a plane ticket to Egypt for this purpose but did not turn up for the flight. An FBI affidavit furthermore reveals that Ventura sent the feds an audio file of his pledge of allegiance to ISIS. However, the affidavit also claims that the teenager offered to seek out and disclose information on potential ISIS terror attacks to the FBI in exchange for $10 million.
Ventura’s communications with the undercover federal agent began in 2021. They used an encrypted messaging system that the FBI knows is used by ISIS members. The contact was initiated by Ventura, who said he wanted to fight abroad. He told the federal agent he was skilled in firearms and willing to sacrifice his life for the cause. The teenager furthermore told the feds that he was keen to kill “kuffar” (unbelievers) and was happy to learn Arabic.
If convicted, Mateo faces a potential 10-year prison sentence.
Despite widespread coverage and knowledge of the atrocities of ISIS and other Islamic terror organizations, support among young Americans is worryingly high. A study carried out back in 2015 – when ISIS regularly featured in news headlines as it carried out brutal public beheadings and burned people alive – revealed that the group’s supporters are not linked by socio-economic background or race. Youth was a factor; most ISIS supporters were in high school or college, most were male, and the vast majority were US citizens. The study struggled to pinpoint a reason for the support, but around 40% began backing ISIS when they converted to Islam.
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