2 more arrested in alleged White House UFC plot

Administration 2 more arrested in alleged White House UFC plot Comments: by Ryan Mancini - 06/23/26 7:52 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Ryan Mancini - 06/23/26 7:52 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Two more people have been arrested in connection with what federal law enforcement have said was a plot to attack the “UFC Freedom 250” event in front of the White House earlier this month on President Trump’s 80th birthday.

Court filings show that on Friday, William Lee Spartacus Falkner of Belfair, Wash., was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The Western District of Missouri also charged Jordan W. Rincker with conspiracy to commit murder after his arrest on Sunday. Neither man has entered a plea.

Federal authorities said they have now identified at least six individuals alleged to have been part of a conspiracy to plan an attack on the White House lawn. Investigators sought out Falkner while looking into online group chats used by the alleged conspirators such as SimpleX.

Earlier this month, Falkner allegedly communicated with three other accused co-conspirators about being able “to procure and operate drones; tactics and drone related strategy; and the use of explosives,” court documents show. Authorities said Falkner operated a Telegram account in these alleged communications.

Federal authorities accused Rincker of accepting a $1,200 cash payment from Abraham A. Alvarez of Nebraska and sending a $100 CashApp payment to Bryan Omar Roa of California, two other individuals accused of being part of the suspected plot. Rincker was accused of the “transfer” of a pump-action shotgun to Alvarez, according to the filings.

FBI Director Kash Patel previously said the FBI and its law enforcement partners first “became aware of a potential threat” to the UFC event on June 10, four days before the fights.

U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn said the event was “never at risk,” and that the Secret Service led the probe into the alleged plot “from the beginning” and did not leak details of the investigation to maintain its integrity.

Federal authorities said a total of 20 individuals are believed to be connected to the plot. One other man in custody, Ohio resident Tycen Proper, 19, was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a federal official and multiple firearms-related felonies, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in the Southern District of Ohio.

In other complaints, the Justice Department stated that Michael Alan Thomas of California and Daniel Eskridge of Missouri were involved in planning the attack.

Vice President Vance last week called the alleged plot “very dark stuff” and accused Democrats of fomenting politically motivated violence. Trump, who has been the subject of three unsuccessful assassination plots in the last two years, told reporters that he was unaware of the plot.