Eight men have been indicted for allegedly plotting to carry out a terrorist attack at President Trump's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event that was held on the White House South Lawn in June.
Initially, authorities had arrested five men in connection with the plot just days before the June 14 UFC event. Two more suspects were arrested the next week. An eighth person, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was added in this latest indictment.
When the Justice Department first announced the arrests, officials said that the men planned to use drones to bomb the event and cause a panic, and then use snipers to kill high-target, fleeing attendees.
According to the indictment, the men participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram. According to the Justice Department, the men created plans, recruited members, and encouraged each other to participate in the attacks.
The indictment further states that some of the men amassed weapons, ammunition, tactical gear, and other supplies. Some of them also participated in marksmanship and combat training, chose targets and created operational and escape plans.
According to prosecutors, Scaggs had been given the role of sniper and was expecting to be picked up by Tycen C. Proper 19, of Danville, Ohio. Prosecutors added that Scaggs and others lost contact with Proper after Proper was arrested, but Scaggs allegedly indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another coconspirator to pick him up.
An attorney for Scaggs, Eric Brehm, told ABC News that he was in "the very early stages of gathering and reviewing the government's evidentiary materials."
"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," Brehm told ABC News.
"We have received a copy of the indictment that was returned today," Joseph Patituce, an attorney representing Proper, told the outlet. "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. We ask that the public keep an open mind and remember that he is 19 years old, the youngest of any person charged here."
ABC News reported that Proper's mother became concerned about his online conversations and the fact that he had acquired firearms.
The other defendants charged 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.
All of the men have been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder. If convicted they face life in prison.
As part of this conspiracy, the defendants allegedly planned to murder the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, other federal officials, the Prime Minister of Israel, Elon Musk, and "other high-value targets" at UFC Freedom 250.
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