Eight men indicted for conspiracy to attack UFC White House event and kill government officials

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Ohio has indicted eight men on conspiracy charges related to a plot to attack the UFC White House event in Washington D.C. in June, with alleged plans to murder the President of the United States, the Vice President, the Prime Minister of Israel, Elon Musk, and other high-profile attendees.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office handed down the charges on Thursday against Abraham Alvarez of Nebraska, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, William Falkner of Washington, Tycen Proper of Ohio, Jordan Rincker of Missouri, Brian Roa of California, Chandler Scaggs of West Virginia, and Michael Thomas of California.

The initial investigation centred on Proper, a 19-year-old from Danville, Ohio, along with four others who were arrested by the FBI during the weekend of the UFC event. Three additional individuals have since been added to the indictment, including 21-year-old Chandler Scaggs of Chapmanville, West Virginia, who was taken into custody after allegedly being assigned to serve as one of the snipers in the attack.

All eight men face two counts: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. The first charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; the second carries a potential sentence of life in prison.

According to the indictment, the men allegedly coordinated through online chat groups and forums, where they recruited additional members, amassed weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear, and conducted marksmanship and combat training in preparation for the assault.

The new indictment replaces earlier charges filed against the alleged participants after federal authorities thwarted the plot before it could be carried out.