Teen admits trying to help ISIS. He discussed ‘lone wolf operations,’ police said

A North Las Vegas teenager has admitted to attempting to assist the Islamic State terrorist group. Joshua Robles, 19, pleaded guilty on October 26 to one count of attempt to provide material support for acts of terrorism or terrorists.

Robles was arrested in 2023 and ordered to be tried as an adult. A grand jury had previously indicted him on multiple counts, including providing material support for terrorism, attempt to commit or cause terrorism, soliciting another person to aid terrorism, and incendiary device charges. Prosecutors and defense attorneys did not agree to a specific sentence but will argue their positions at a sentencing hearing.

Authorities accused Robles of collecting bomb-making components, plotting against Governor Joe Lombardo and then-President Joe Biden, and possessing ISIS execution videos on his phone. Prosecutor Tanner Sharp wrote in a motion that by the end of November 2023, Robles took steps toward actual violence, including dressing as an ISIS soldier with a knife and flag, collecting explosive components for pipe bombs, and naming specific targets.

Police and prosecutors said Robles wrote in a November 2023 chatroom post: "Peace be upon all brothers who see this. I am here to announce that I will be starting lone wolf operations in Las Vegas against the enemies of Allah. I ask you to make Dua for victory. I am a supporter of the Islamic State and I will make sure the zionists in this city know it." Robles told police he did not plan to carry out an attack, but prosecutors argued his actions indicated otherwise.

Prosecutors said Robles participated in a chatroom with ISIS supporters and told detectives he liked videos of ISIS executions. Sharp alleged Robles' phone contained the names of ISIS leaders, bomb-making instructions, and a poem fantasizing about violence toward Jewish people. Robles had been suspended from Cannon Junior High School in 2020 following reports he threatened a school shooting. Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill previously refused to release Robles onto electronic monitoring, stating the defendant is a radicalized Islamic terrorist whose release would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal