A 21-year-old Idaho man who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and planned to attack churches in Coeur d'Alene was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in federal prison, the New York Post reports.
Alexander Scott Mercurio pleaded guilty last month to attempting to provide material support to ISIS. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered lifetime supervised release once he finishes his sentence.
Prosecutors said Mercurio planned to hit the churches on the group's behalf with explosives, knives, firearms and other weapons. The FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, one day before the planned attack. Court records say he built an online collection of pro-ISIS material, wanted to travel overseas to join the group but lacked the money, and shortly before his arrest handed an informant an audio recording pledging his support.
His lawyers asked for nine years, describing him as a depressed, isolated teenager who has since renounced his views. The judge gave him twice that.
"Where individuals intend to pursue acts of terrorism against the United States — whether in Coeur d'Alene, or any other community — they will be brought to justice," Idaho U.S. Attorney John Shirts said.
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