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An eighth defendant has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other high-profile targets during the UFC Freedom 250 event held June 14 at the White House, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
According to a DOJ news release, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was arrested Tuesday in his home state. Prosecutors allege Scaggs was assigned the role of sniper in the planned attack.
The investigation began with a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Ohio against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio.
Proper and four other defendants charged in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California were arrested during the weekend of the UFC event. Federal authorities later arrested two additional suspects in Washington state and Missouri about a week afterward.
According to an affidavit cited by the Justice Department, Proper was expected to pick up Scaggs before traveling to Washington.
After Proper was arrested, Scaggs and other alleged conspirators reportedly lost contact with him. Prosecutors allege Scaggs later told the group he remained willing to participate in the attack and arranged for another alleged co-conspirator to transport him to the event.
Those charged in the case are Proper, Scaggs, Abraham H. Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska; 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 A. Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California.
A federal grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, returned a two-count indictment charging all eight defendants with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and murder a federal government official.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison on the material support conspiracy charge and up to life in prison on the murder conspiracy charge, in addition to potential fines.
Prosecutors allege the conspiracy began in May, with the defendants working to provide money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, communications equipment, personnel and other resources to support the planned attack.
According to the DOJ, the defendants also allegedly acquired weapons, ammunition and tactical equipment, conducted firearms and combat training, identified targets at the UFC event and developed plans for carrying out the attack and fleeing the scene.
