Alexander Scott Mercurio, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.
Court records show that, in early 2023, he created an online repository of pro-ISIS content to spread the doctrine of the Islamic State. He also purchased weapons with the intent to commit a terrorist attack on churches in his hometown using various weapons.
The FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, one day before his planned attack. Days before his arrest, Mercurio stood before an ISIS flag while holding a knife and pledged allegiance to the terror group.
Mercurio is set to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2026, and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
