Idaho Man Gets 18 Years for ISIS Plot

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Prosecutors said he planned a mass-casualty attack on churches in Coeur d’Alene, intending to use his father’s firearms and other weapons; the FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, the day before the planned assault. Court records also describe his creation of an online collection of pro-ISIS material and his pledge of allegiance to the group. His defense said he was a troubled, isolated teenager who had experienced family trauma and radicalized over time.