A total of eight men have been indicted for their alleged roles in a plot to attack a UFC event held on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026, according to federal prosecutors.
The indictment, unsealed Thursday, alleges the men planned to use drones to create a diversion and then employ snipers to target attendees fleeing the event. The alleged targets included "high value targets" such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and the Prime Minister of Israel.
Authorities initially arrested five men in connection with the alleged plot on the weekend of the event, and two more suspects the following week. The eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was allegedly assigned to be a sniper. He was taken into custody in West Virginia.
According to prosecutors, Scaggs had planned to travel to Washington D.C. with Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, another alleged co-conspirator. After Proper's arrest, Scaggs allegedly made new plans to travel to the capital and expressed continued intent to carry out the attack.
An attorney for Scaggs stated that his office is in the early stages of reviewing the government's evidence. "Because of the serious nature of the allegations, I decline any further comment until I've had an opportunity to more thoroughly review this matter," Eric Brehm told ABC News.
The seven individuals initially arrested faced charges via criminal complaint in various districts. However, a grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, has issued a superseding two-count indictment that replaces the original charges. All eight men are now charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.
Joseph Patituce, an attorney for Proper, said his client will enter a plea of not guilty. "Mr. Proper will enter a plea of not guilty and as we move forward we will carefully review the charges against him and go step by step from there," Patituce said. "We ask that the public keep an open mind and remember that he is 19 years old, the youngest of any person charged here."
The alleged plot involved a structured system of action, including a tiered classification of participants. "Tier one" participants were expected to "put themselves in harms way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding."
In addition to Scaggs and Proper, the other named defendants are Abraham Alvarez, 31, of Omaha; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Hamilton, Missouri; William L.S. Falkner, 21, of Belfair, Washington; Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Bryan O. Roa, 25, of Calimesa, California; and Michael Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California.
If convicted, each man faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison. Authorities stated that the investigation was initiated after Proper's mother raised concerns to police about his acquisition of firearms and online conversations.