Eight men have been indicted over an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack at the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last month.
The suspects were charged alongside six other men in a two-count federal indictment alleging conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and to murder a federal government official.
“The defendants allegedly planned to murd£r 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,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
The group allegedly used Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram to recruit members, coordinate training and develop plans for the June 14 attack, according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors allege the defendants stockpiled weapons, ammunition and tactical gear, conducted combat and marksmanship training, selected targets for the UFC Freedom 250 event and developed plans to carry out the attack and escape afterward.
The defendants are Bryan O. Roa, 25, of Calimesa, and Michael A. Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, 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; and Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia.
According to prosecutors, the alleged conspiracy began in May 2026, when the defendants started acquiring firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, communications equipment, medical supplies and other materials that investigators say were intended to support terrorist acts. Federal authorities allege the men coordinated much of their activity through encrypted online chat groups and social media platforms.
The indictment also alleges the group established a tiered membership structure to classify participants based on their willingness to carry out violence. Prosecutors said so-called “Tier One” members committed to putting themselves “in harms [sic] way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding” as part of the alleged plot.
The charges build on allegations first detailed in criminal complaints unsealed last month. According to those court documents, investigators alleged the group planned a multi-phase attack that would have used explosive-laden drones to create panic before sniper teams targeted fleeing crowds and other designated “high value targets” attending the White House event.
Federal authorities previously identified Thomas as one of the alleged planners of the conspiracy. Court documents filed in June alleged he described himself to investigators as “the planner and advisor for the group” and admitted he wanted to guide others in carrying out attacks, even if he did not intend to personally participate. Investigators also alleged they recovered maps of the White House grounds, firearms and tactical equipment during the investigation.
If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and up to life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder.
