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Federal authorities have charged five men accused of plotting a mass-casualty attack against attendees at last weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House grounds.
According to the United States Department of Justice, the suspects allegedly planned to use explosive-equipped drones to create panic and force a mass evacuation before sniper teams opened fire on selected targets within the fleeing crowd.
The alleged plot was uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which coordinated arrests across Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California in what officials described as a multi-state counterterrorism operation. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the response.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America safe through quick response and vigilance,” Blanche said. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators first learned of the threat on June 10 and moved quickly to disrupt the alleged operation before the event took place.
The defendants were identified as Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Nebraska.
Court documents allege the group began discussing an attack as early as March and later moved communications to encrypted messaging platforms.
Prosecutors say the suspects discussed drone attacks, sniper positions, escape routes, and potential targets that allegedly included members of Congress and other government officials.
According to charging documents, Proper admitted participating in planning activities and had accumulated firearms, ammunition, and tactical equipment. Searches conducted at multiple locations reportedly recovered rifles, handguns, ammunition, communications gear, and other materials investigators believe were connected to the alleged scheme.
Authorities allege Roa and Thomas discussed acquiring drones and explosives, while Thomas allegedly coordinated operational planning and weapons training. Eskridge is accused of participating in conversations regarding potential political targets.
Alvarez, who allegedly used the alias “Shepherd,” is accused of helping direct the operation by distributing maps, proposed drone launch locations, sniper positions, and extraction plans.