Lehigh Acres man arrested for promoting ISIS propaganda

The FBI says suspect Jonathan Guerra-Blanco thought he was talking to other people who could help him release ISIS propaganda videos in multiple languages. But, really, he was talking to FBI online covert employees.

“To think that somebody would harm their neighbors?” Said Daniel Rayl in Lehigh Acres. “I was raised to watch my neighbor’s house.”

Rayl is outraged to learn someone in his neighborhood, someone he could have come across, was arrested for making ISIS propaganda videos and accused of trying to convince people to harm others.

“I’m a single father of three kids,” Rayl said. “What if one of those was set off in the laundry mat where I’m doing clothes? Or while I’m doing groceries? It is the philosophy and work of cowards.”

The FBI says Jonathan Guerra-Blanco was involved in making a video entitled “Called to Islam” and another on how to make a bomb.

“Hurting others is never a good thing,” Rayl said. “Harming others only proves the point that you’re willing to harm people.”

The FBI said Guerra-Blanco also used a variety of ways to disguise and protect his identity online. But eventually he identified himself to an undercover FBI employee.

Rich Kolko, WINK News Safety & Security Specialist, told us Guerra-Blanco is what the FBI would call a lone wolf. Kolko said the suspect likely self-radicalized watching videos and finding chat rooms online.

“A major concern for the FBI because these folks are truly those who believe what they’re watching and cause a lot of problems,” Kolko said. “They watch the videos, read some of the documents become acclimated to what it is.”

The criminal complaint says Guerra-Blanco had been on the FBI’s radar since October 2019. It also mentions some footage used in his videos included the Biltmore Hotel in Miami and buildings along the Las Vegas strip.