Eight individuals have been charged with terrorism offenses in connection with an alleged plot to attack a UFC event held at the White House last month, according to federal prosecutors. The defendants, aged 19 to 32, face charges including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory, and conspiracy to murder a federal government official. If convicted of the murder charges, they could face life imprisonment, while the terror offenses carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The alleged plot was brought to light after the mother of one of the suspects, Tycen J Proper, contacted local authorities on June 10. She expressed concern over his significant firearms purchases and his online communications with a group that identified as former military members and Christian-based. Prosecutors stated the group discussed grievances related to government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, and the impact of data centers on community water supplies.
Proper told law enforcement that the group intended to "jumpstart a revolution in the United States" by attacking the UFC Freedom 250 event, which was part of the nation's 250th-anniversary celebrations. The plan allegedly included using explosive-laden drones to strike nearby buildings and target high-value individuals, with the aim of creating panic and directing fleeing crowds toward a sniper team. A subsequent phase reportedly involved an attempt to storm the White House gate.
The invite-only event on the South Lawn of the White House was attended by an estimated 4,300 people, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as senior cabinet officials and lawmakers. Court filings indicate that potential targets included Trump, Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk, and several elected officials, though not all were present at the event.
According to officials, the group began communicating in March and primarily recruited members through TikTok. They utilized online platforms such as Signal, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord to coordinate their planning. It remains unclear if the group has ties to any larger, established organizations.
In addition to Proper, the accused have been identified as Daniel K Eskridge, William LS Falkner, Jordan W Rincker, Bryan O Roa, Michael A Thomas, and Chandler D Scaggs, who was arrested this week. Another individual, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, is also named in court filings. The defendants are reportedly based across the country, from California to Missouri and Nebraska.
A ninth person, Alexander Iniguez Mercado, was arrested last week and charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly deleting the Signal app from his phone after being contacted by an FBI agent. Mercado has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The UFC event took place on June 14. It coincided with President Trump's 80th birthday. This incident follows a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in April, which President Trump attended, and an event in May where a man was killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire at a White House checkpoint.