8 Men Indicted In Planned Attack at UFC Freedom 250 Event

COLUMBUS, OH — Eight men connected to a terror plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House in June were recently indicted on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in a planned drone and sniper attack.

The indictment, returned Thursday in Ohio, charges the men with two separate conspiracies: one to provide material support to terrorists and another to commit murder on federal government property and murder a federal government official.

Read the indictment HERE.

According to federal prosecutors, the alleged plot began in May when the group started collecting money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, communication equipment and other materials.

Law enforcement officials learned of a possible threat to the UFC event on June 10, four days before the event was scheduled to take place.

Federal officials said members of the group held fringe conspiracy beliefs and allegedly hoped the attack would destabilize the government.

According to a federal affidavit, one defendant told investigators the group planned to use drones carrying explosives before opening fire on people fleeing the event.

The Justice Department initially announced charges against seven people last month from several states, including Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska and California. The eighth defendant was charged this week.

Officials identified the eighth suspect as 21-year-old Chandler D. Scaggs of Chapmanville, West Virginia. Prosecutors allege Scaggs was assigned to act as one of the snipers in the planned attack.

According to an affidavit, Scaggs was supposed to be picked up by 19-year-old Tycen C. Proper of Danville, Ohio, and travel to Washington. After Proper was arrested, investigators said Scaggs allegedly remained willing to participate and attempted to make other travel arrangements with another co-conspirator.

Proper and four others were arrested in Missouri, Nebraska and California during the weekend of UFC Freedom 250. Two additional defendants were arrested about a week later in Washington and Missouri, according to the Justice Department.

The eight individuals charged include:

• Abraham H. Alvarez, 31 (Nebraska)
• Daniel K. Eskridge, 32 (Missouri)
• William L.S. Falkner, 21 (Washington)
• Tycen J. Proper, 19 (Danville, Ohio)
• Jordan W. Rincker, 28 (Missouri)
• Bryan O. Roa, 25 (California)
• Chandler D. Scaggs, 21 (West Virginia)
• Michael A. Thomas, 32 (California)

Federal prosecutors allege the group planned to target President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other federal officials attending the event. Prosecutors also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, businessman Elon Musk and other expected attendees were among the alleged targets.

A conviction for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A conviction for conspiracy to commit murder carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

Authorities have not said how close the suspects were to carrying out the alleged attack before it was stopped.