Eight Men Indicted in Alleged Drone-and-Sniper Plot Against White House UFC Event

Eight men have been indicted on federal murder and terrorism-conspiracy charges for allegedly plotting a large-scale attack against President Donald Trump and other high-profile figures during the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last month.

The two-count indictment was returned Thursday in Columbus, Ohio, and brings all eight defendants into a single federal case after earlier arrests and criminal complaints were filed in several states.

Federal prosecutors say the group planned to use explosive-laden drones to strike the event, force a mass evacuation and then use snipers to fire at people fleeing the White House grounds. The alleged targets included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk, other federal officials and additional “high value targets.”

The UFC Freedom 250 event was held on the White House grounds on June 14.

According to the Justice Department, law-enforcement officials first learned of the possible threat on June 10, only four days before the event. The show went forward after authorities disrupted the alleged plot and began arresting suspects around the country.

Prosecutors say the conspiracy began in May, when members of the group allegedly started collecting money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, communications equipment and other materials.

The suspects allegedly communicated through Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram, where they discussed attack plans, recruited participants and encouraged one another to prepare for violence.

The indictment says the group created a tier system for members. Those placed in “tier one” allegedly agreed to put themselves in danger, break the law and potentially go into hiding after the attack.

Federal authorities also claim members conducted firearms and combat training, chose targets, assigned roles and developed plans both for carrying out the attack and escaping afterward.

One defendant reportedly told investigators that explosive drones would be flown into or around the event to cause panic and funnel spectators toward an exit. Snipers would then allegedly fire at members of the fleeing crowd.

The eight defendants named in the indictment are:

Abraham H. Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Hamilton, Missouri; William L. S. Falkner, 21, of Belfair, Washington; Tycen J. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Bryan O. Roa, 25, of Calimesa, California; Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia; and Michael A. Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California.

Five men were arrested during the weekend of the UFC event in cases filed in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California. Two additional suspects were arrested about a week later in Washington state and Missouri.

Scaggs, the eighth defendant, was taken into custody in West Virginia this week. Prosecutors allege he had been assigned to serve as one of the snipers.

Authorities say Scaggs was supposed to be picked up by Proper and driven to Washington, D.C. After Proper was arrested, Scaggs allegedly lost contact with him but remained willing to participate and made plans for another alleged conspirator to transport him to the event.

The indictment charges the men with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal property and murder a federal official.

The material-support charge carries a possible sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison. The murder-conspiracy charge carries a potential life sentence.

It remains unclear from the public court records how close the suspects were to having the ability to carry out the alleged attack.

The indictment replaces the separate criminal complaints previously filed around the country and allows federal prosecutors to present the case as one coordinated conspiracy in Ohio.

All eight defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. But we all just know they need to be locked up forever without a chance for parole.