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Eight people now face terrorism charges related to a thwarted alleged plot to kill government officials and high-profile figures — including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk — at the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last month.
All eight were charged together Thursday as part of a two-count indictment handed down in Ohio.
The indictment alleges they conspired to provide material support to terrorists, conspired to commit murder on federal territory, and conspired to murder federal government officials, the Justice Department said.
FBI REVEALS WHY TRUMP WHITE HOUSE UFC EVENT WENT AHEAD DESPITE ALLEGED TERROR PLOT
The UFC Freedom 250 fights take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Eight men has face terrorism charges related to a thwarted plot to attack at he event and kill government officials, the Justice Department said Thursday. (Getty Images)
On June 10 — just four days prior to the event — law enforcement officials first learned of the possible threat to the cage-fighting show. Seven of the suspects were arrested shortly after in various locations across the country.
The eighth suspect, who was allegedly designated to participate as a sniper during the attack, was arrested this week by the FBI in West Virginia.
The indictment stems from an initial investigation and criminal complaint filed against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio. The other defendants are Michael Alan Thomas, 32; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32; Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31; Jordan W. Rincker, 28; Bryan Omar Roa, 25; William Lee Spartacus Falkner, 21; and Chandler D. Scaggs, 21.
CHICAGO MAN CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN CONNECTION TO WHITE HOUSE UFC ATTACK PLOT
President Donald J. Trump and UFC President Dana White watch the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The plot allegedly began in May when the defendants started amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies and communications equipment.
Federal prosecutors said Scaggs was originally supposed to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington, D.C.
However, even after Proper was arrested, Scaggs indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another co-conspirator to pick him up.
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The suspects coordinated online through an encrypted Signal chat, Discord, and a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old,” authorities said.
The group held fringe anti-government conspiracy theories and expressed a desire to “tear down” the United States so it could be rebuilt, prosecutors noted.