An Idaho man who planned a mass-casualty attack targeting churches in the name of ISIS has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday.
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, was also sentenced to lifetime supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye handed down the sentence in federal court in Idaho.
According to court records, Mercurio planned to attack multiple churches after pledging allegiance to ISIS. His plan included taking firearms belonging to his father and using them in the attacks. Prosecutors said he intended to first incapacitate his father by striking him with a metal pipe before taking the weapons.
Mercurio also planned to use knives, a machete, explosives and weapons covered in flames during the attacks. A search of his home uncovered several firearms belonging to his father, along with butane canisters, lighters, handcuffs, a knife and a machete.
Days before the planned attack, Mercurio recorded himself standing in front of an ISIS flag while holding a knife and declaring his allegiance to the terrorist group.
The FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, just 1 day before the planned attack was supposed to take place.
The investigation also uncovered Mercurio’s earlier efforts to promote ISIS online. In early 2023, he created an online repository containing propaganda and other material supporting the group, with the intention of spreading its ideology.
Federal officials said the sentence holds Mercurio accountable for planning violence against religious communities and attempting to support ISIS.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force led the investigation, with assistance from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins, along with National Security Division prosecutor Matthew R. Hracho, handled the case.