COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Eight men have been indicted on charges of murder and terrorism conspiracy for their alleged roles in a foiled drone and sniper attack targeting the UFC cage-fighting show held at the White House in June. The indictment was filed in Ohio and is part of a broader investigation into a plot that law enforcement officials deemed a serious threat.
The charges against the eight men include two separate conspiracies: one aimed at providing material support to terrorists and the other focused on committing murder within federal territory and against federal officials. The extent to which these assailants might have succeeded remains unclear, but the indictment highlights the dangerous intentions behind their plans.
The plot reportedly began in May when the group began raising funds and acquiring a range of weapons and equipment, including firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, and communication devices. Law enforcement first became aware of a potential threat related to the UFC event on June 10, just days before the fight was scheduled to occur on June 14.
The Justice Department recently announced a series of criminal complaints related to the UFC attack across various states, including Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska, and California. This indictment consolidates the case in Ohio, aiming to create a unified prosecution of the defendants. According to government officials, the accused shared extreme conspiracy theories and believed that executing this attack would lead to governmental destabilization.
One of the defendants provided a chilling affidavit detailing plans to use explosive-laden drones during the event while shooting at attendees who would be in a panic. Communication among group members was conducted through online chat groups, within which they categorized participants based on their commitment levels to the conspiracy, with some individuals classified as Tier 1 for their willingness to engage in violent acts and evade capture afterwards. Marksmanship and combat training were also part of their preparation.
Tycen C. Proper, 19, from Danville, Ohio, and several others were apprehended in Missouri, Nebraska, and California during the weekend of the cage-fighting event, known as Freedom 250. Additional arrests occurred around a week later in Washington and Missouri, when two more defendants were charged. The eighth suspect, 21-year-old Chandler D. Scaggs from Chapmanville, West Virginia, was captured subsequently and is believed to have been assigned the role of sniper in the attack plot.
According to the affidavit, Scaggs intended to be picked up by Proper and brought to Washington but lost contact with him following Proper's arrest. Despite this, Scaggs allegedly maintained his intention to participate in the operation and coordinated travel to the event with another co-conspirator.
Scaggs’ attorney, Eric Brehm, stated that they are reviewing the allegations thoroughly but opted not to comment further on the case. The penalties for these offenses are severe, with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, while conspiring to commit murder could lead to life imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that the group planned to target high-profile individuals during the event, including Trump, Vice President JD Vance, other federal officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and entrepreneur Elon Musk, among other significant figures.
