Court Case

USA v. Domingo, Mark Steven

April 2019 (Updated November 2, 2021)
Reseda, CA
Homegrown

Mark Steven Domingo of Reseda, California, was arrested in connection with a terror plot in which he planned to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED) for the purpose of causing mass casualties. In online posts and in conversations with an FBI source, Domingo, a former U.S. Army infantryman, expressed support for violent jihad, a desire to seek retribution for attacks against Muslims, and a willingness to become a martyr. 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 mustbe retribution," according to the complaint. In August 2021, a federal jury convicted Domingo for attempting to bomb a rally in Long Beach for the purpose of causing mass casualties, and he was found guilty of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction. Domingo was sentenced in November 2021 to 25 years in federal prison.

Case Updates

2021-11-02 | San Fernando Valley Man Who Plotted Bombing of Long Beach Rally Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

Mark Steven Domingo who planned the bombing of a political rally in Long Beach, California in 2019 was sentenced in November 2021 to 25 years in federal prison. On Aug. 11 Domingo was found guilty of one count of providing material support to terrorists and one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction at the conclusion of a five-day jury trial. He has been in federal custody since April 2019. The investigation into Domingo was prompted by his online posts and conversations in an online forum in which he expressed support for violence, specifically a desire to seek violent 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. 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 to place the bombs 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.

2021-08-12 | San Fernando Valley Man Found Guilty in Terror Plot to Bomb a Rally in Long Beach

A federal jury convicted Mark Steven Domingo in August 2021 for attempting to bomb a rally in Long Beach for the purpose of causing mass casualties. Domingo was found guilty of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction. 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. Domingo was convicted of providing material support to terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Case Documents