A California federal grand jury indicted Wednesday Mark Steven Domingo for planning to bomb a rally in Long Beach in late April.
The former U.S. Army infantryman was charged with providing material support to terrorists and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Domingo expressed in online posts his support for jihad, a willingness to become a martyr and a desire for retribution for attacks against Muslims, according to the affidavit. He also expressed these sentiments to an FBI source.
Domingo considered several targets before settling on bombing the rally. He asked an accomplice, who in reality was working with the FBI as part of the investigation, for help finding a bomb-maker.
The informant introduced Domingo to a bomb-maker, who was an undercover officer. Domingo purchased several hundred nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs.
Domingo received an inert explosive device he thought was a live bomb. He then drove the informant and the undercover officer to Long Beach to scout the location of the planned attack. Domingo discussed with them targeting the most crowded areas to cause mass casualties.
Domingo was arrested April 26 and, if convicted, could be sentenced to life in federal prison.