Federal prosecutors say eight people were charged in a two-count indictment tied to an alleged White House sniper plot planned around the UFC Freedom 250 event. The Justice Department and FBI say the indictment alleges conspiracies to provide material support to terrorists and to murder government officials; arrests followed after investigators uncovered the plan days before the event.
White House sniper plot: what prosecutors say
According to the Justice Department indictment and related FBI statements, the defendants are accused of plotting attacks on government officials and other high-profile figures in connection with the UFC Freedom 250 event. Prosecutors allege conspiracies to provide material support to terrorists and to commit murder on federal territory. Those assertions are contained in charging documents and remain allegations.
Charging papers say the plan assigned a shooter role described as a “sniper” and included efforts to obtain weapons and equipment to carry out attacks at or near the event.
White House sniper plot: who was charged
The indictment names eight defendants charged together in Ohio. The initial criminal complaint was filed against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio. Other defendants listed in charging documents include Michael Alan Thomas, 32; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32; Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31; Jordan W. Rincker, 28; Bryan Omar Roa, 25; William Lee Spartacus Falkner, 21; and Chandler D. Scaggs, 21.
Prosecutors allege one individual had been designated to serve as a sniper. The FBI later arrested that individual in West Virginia, while other suspects were taken into custody in Ohio and elsewhere, according to court filings.
How and when authorities intervened
Authorities say they first became aware of a potential threat on June 10, four days before the scheduled event, which prompted an expedited investigative response. The timeline from charging documents and public statements:
- June 10: Investigators received information prompting a federal probe.
- Shortly after: Seven suspects were arrested in multiple locations, including Ohio.
- Subsequent days: The alleged sniper was arrested by the FBI in West Virginia.
Federal officials emphasize the case is in the pretrial stage and the allegations in the indictment are not findings of guilt.
Online coordination and weapons stockpiling
Prosecutors say the group coordinated on encrypted and social platforms, including Signal and Discord, and identified a TikTok group in filings as “Vanguard of the Old.” Charging documents allege the defendants began gathering funds and equipment in May.
The indictment lists items authorities say were collected or sought: firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies and communications devices. Court filings also attribute anti-government rhetoric and talk of violent action to the group; those characterizations are derived from the charging documents and remain allegations.
What comes next in the case
The eight defendants were returned on a two-count federal indictment in Ohio. The Justice Department is prosecuting the matter; federal courts will handle pretrial proceedings. Potential penalties for the charged conspiracies can include lengthy prison terms if convictions occur, though outcomes will depend on trial results or plea agreements.
Federal prosecutors will schedule initial appearances and subsequent hearings. Defendants retain the right to legal process and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, as noted in charging documents and DOJ statements.
Frequently asked questions
What charges do the defendants face?
The indictment alleges conspiracies to provide material support to terrorists and to commit murder on federal territory, including murder of federal government officials. Those are allegations in the charging documents.
Were any planned targets named in the indictment?
Prosecutors’ filings reference high-profile public figures as alleged targets. Any names that appear in charging documents are part of the indictment and have not been proven in court.
How did law enforcement find the plot?
Authorities say an initial tip on June 10 prompted the investigation. The probe relied on encrypted chat evidence and social media references cited in charging papers, including Signal, Discord and the named TikTok group.
Source attribution: reporting is based on the Justice Department indictment and public statements from the FBI, and on contemporaneous news reporting from the linked Fox News story below.
Fox News – 8 indicted in planned sniper attack at White House UFC 250 event, DOJ says
