Coeur d'Alene man gets 18 years for planning to attack churches for ISIS

A Coeur d'Alene man who planned to attack churches in the city on behalf of ISIS was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho said.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, will be on supervised release for the rest of his life once he is out. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye handed down the sentence Nov. 10.

Mercurio was convicted of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The Justice Department says he pleaded guilty in October 2025.

WHAT HE PLANNED

According to court records described by federal prosecutors:

- Mercurio pledged allegiance to ISIS and meant to carry out an attack in Coeur d'Alene in its name.
- In early 2023 he set up an online collection of pro-ISIS material.
- He wanted to go overseas to join the group and did not have the means, so he turned to planning an attack at home.
- The plan was to hurt his father with a metal pipe, take his father's guns, and attack churches in Coeur d'Alene on April 7, 2024.
- Days before that date, he stood in front of an ISIS flag with a knife and pledged allegiance again.

HOW IT ENDED

The FBI arrested him April 6, 2024, one day before the planned attack. A search of his home turned up butane canisters, lighters, handcuffs, a knife, a machete and several guns that belonged to his father, prosecutors said.

No one was hurt.

WHO WORKED THE CASE

The FBI investigated with help from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the Ada County Sheriff's Office. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho and the Justice Department's National Security Division prosecuted.

HOW WE KNOW

Every fact above is from the U.S. Attorney's Office news release dated Nov. 10, 2026, which summarizes the court record. We have not reviewed the court file ourselves.