8 indicted in White House UFC event attack plot

Court Battles 8 indicted in White House UFC event attack plot Comments: by Sarah Davis - 07/10/26 8:50 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 07/10/26 8:50 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Eight men were indicted on federal charges Thursday for their alleged involvement in a planned drone and sniper attack on the White House’s UFC cage-fighting event last month.

The indictment, which was returned in Ohio, charges the defendants in two separate plots, including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a government official.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced last month that a multistate law enforcement operation successfully stopped a potential attack on this event after becoming aware of the plot four days before on June 10 through Signal chats.

“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said in a statement shared on social media.

Federal prosecutors alleged in this new indictment that the defendants began staging their plot in May over online chat groups and forums and agreed on targets for the June 14 UFC event.

According to the charges, the men planned to murder President Trump, Vice President Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, billionaire Elon Musk and “other high value targets” at this event.

The defendants also allegedly conspired to provide material support to terrorists as part of this plot — a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Murder conspiracy carries a potential penalty of up to life in prison.

The Justice Department (DOJ) said that the defendants include Abraham H. Alvarez, Daniel K. Eskridge, William L.S. Falkner, Tycen J. Proper, Jordan W. Rincker, Bryan O. Roa, Chandler D. Scaggs and Michael A. Thomas.

The DOJ previously announced several criminal complaints in districts across the country in connection with this thwarted attack. Thursday’s indictment groups all eight defendants together under the same conspiracy charges.