{"id":3280,"date":"2026-07-10T22:35:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T17:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3280"},"modified":"2026-07-10T22:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T17:35:44","slug":"total-of-8-suspects-now-indicted-in-alleged-plot-to-attack-white-house-ufc-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3280","title":{"rendered":"Total of 8 suspects now indicted in alleged plot to attack White House UFC event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">A total of eight men have been indicted for their alleged roles <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/fbi-disrupts-plot-targeting-ufc-event-sources\/story?id=133915057\" dir=\"ltr\">in the plot to attack a UFC event <\/a>on the grounds of the White House last month, according to federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The men allegedly wanted to use drones to create a diversion, and then use snipers to attack attendees fleeing from the June 14 event on the South Lawn of the White House, according to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Authorities <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/fbi-disrupts-plot-targeting-ufc-event-sources\/story?id=133915057\" dir=\"ltr\">arrested five men<\/a> in connection with the alleged plot on the weekend it took place and <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/7-people-now-face-charges-plot-targeting-ufc\/story?id=134107875\" dir=\"ltr\">another two suspects<\/a> the following week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PHOTO: Trump Hosts Brutal UFC Fights At White House For 80th Birthday\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Justin Gaethje, mixed martial artist, and Ilia Topuria, mixed martial artist, during a lightweight championship bout during the UFC Freedom250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, early on Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \"> Evan Vucci\/Reuters\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The indictment, unveiled Thursday, includes an eighth defendant &#8212; Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, who was allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers in the attack, according to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Scaggs was allegedly planning to be picked up by Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, another alleged coconspirator, and to travel to Washington, D.C., with him, according to prosecutors. Scaggs and other alleged members of the plot lost contact with Proper after he was arrested by federal authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">According to prosecutors, after losing contact with Proper, Scaggs allegedly made new plans to travel to Washington, D.C., and indicated he still wanted to carry out the attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Scaggs was taken into custody in West Virginia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">An attorney for Scaggs said his office is in &#8220;the very early stages of gathering and reviewing the government&#8217;s evidentiary materials.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;Because of the serious nature of the allegations, I decline any further comment until I&#8217;ve had an opportunity to more thoroughly review this matter,&#8221; Eric Brehm, who is representing Scaggs told ABC News.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/edfec990-648a-4669-8a7f-4a67cb4fd5ca\/AP26167418372178_1783652619212_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/edfec990-648a-4669-8a7f-4a67cb4fd5ca\/AP26167418372178_1783652619212_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/edfec990-648a-4669-8a7f-4a67cb4fd5ca\/AP26167418372178_1783652619212_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/edfec990-648a-4669-8a7f-4a67cb4fd5ca\/AP26167418372178_1783652619212_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PHOTO: UFC Freedom 250 Trump\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/edfec990-648a-4669-8a7f-4a67cb4fd5ca\/AP26167418372178_1783652619212_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Featherweight fighters Diego Lopez and Steve Garcia compete in the ring during the first fight at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The seven people initially arrested were previously charged by criminal complaint in various districts around the country. However, the two-count indictment by a grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, replaces the initial charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The indictment charges all eight men with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">An attorney for Proper said he will enter a not guilty plea.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;We have received a copy of the indictment that was returned today,&#8221; Joseph Patituce, an attorney representing Proper, told ABC News. &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The men allegedly wanted to attack &#8220;high value targets&#8221; such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and the Prime Minster of Israel, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/d02000a9-830c-4283-bae7-70d51f3fa8cd\/GettyImages-2281060986_1783652936198_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/d02000a9-830c-4283-bae7-70d51f3fa8cd\/GettyImages-2281060986_1783652936198_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/d02000a9-830c-4283-bae7-70d51f3fa8cd\/GettyImages-2281060986_1783652936198_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/d02000a9-830c-4283-bae7-70d51f3fa8cd\/GettyImages-2281060986_1783652936198_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PHOTO: Trump Hosts Brutal UFC Fights At White House For 80th Birthday\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/d02000a9-830c-4283-bae7-70d51f3fa8cd\/GettyImages-2281060986_1783652936198_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Fireworks during the UFC Freedom250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, early on Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Saul Loeb\/AFP\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The men &#8220;created, organized, and participated in a structured system of action, including a &#8216;tier&#8217; system to classify participants in the conspiracy, with &#8220;tier one&#8221; participants committing &#8220;to put themselves in harms [sic] way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding,&#8221; according to court records.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In addition to Scaggs and Proper, the other defendants are:<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->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.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">If convicted, all eight men could each face up to life in prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">Authorities have said <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/mothers-phone-calls-police-helped-uncover-alleged-ufc\/story?id=134002352\" dir=\"ltr\">concerned phone calls by Proper&#8217;s mother<\/a> helped tip off authorities to what would become a nationwide investigation into the alleged plot.<!-- -->\u00a0<a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/mothers-phone-calls-police-helped-uncover-alleged-ufc\/story?id=134002352\" dir=\"ltr\">\u00a0<!-- -->She raised concerns to police<\/a>\u00a0<!-- -->about his recent amassing of firearms and troubling conversations with individuals online, according to authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A total of eight men have been indicted for their alleged roles in the plot to attack a UFC event on the grounds of the White House last month, according to federal prosecutors. The men allegedly wanted to use drones to create a diversion, and then use snipers to attack attendees fleeing from the June&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/18e0a4ea-9886-452b-851e-099adfde90c0\/GettyImages-2281056489_1783652779365_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}