Authorities release new details on White House UFC attack plot

Federal prosecutors have released new details about an alleged plot to attack a UFC event on the White House grounds, saying one suspect directed others to use explosive drones, sniper teams and escape routes as part of a planned mass-casualty attack.

The plot targeted UFC Freedom 250, which was held Sunday on the White House grounds. Five men were charged after the FBI said it learned of a potential threat on June 10 and carried out arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California.

The men were identified as Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Prosecutors said Alvarez used the name “Shepherd” in encrypted chats and was responsible for planning, organizing and directing the attack. From Nebraska, he allegedly posted maps showing drone launch points, sniper positions and escape routes around the White House grounds.

In one exchange about making drones with explosives, Alvarez allegedly told others they should make them “as many and as deadly as we can get.” He also allegedly said he was working on drones and had one drone while working to obtain more.

The group planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the event to force an evacuation, then use snipers to fire on “high value targets” in the fleeing crowd, prosecutors said. The targets included government officials and others attending the event.

Prosecutors said Alvarez also provided directions to a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska and instructed others to use back roads or a river route to reach a pickup location. He later provided locations for drone launch points and sniper positions near the event.

Proper allegedly told investigators that members of the group began communicating around March before more serious participants moved to an encrypted chat app. He said they planned to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before carrying out the attack, according to prosecutors.

The complaint says Proper amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and tactical gear at his home in Ohio. He also allegedly identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress.

Prosecutors said the group also discussed a team structure for the attack. Eskridge allegedly said they needed five teams of three people, with each team made up of a sniper, a support or lookout role and a drone operator.

Searches of the suspects’ homes and vehicles recovered firearms, ammunition and tactical equipment, prosecutors said. At Eskridge’s home, agents recovered rifles, a shotgun, a pistol and other tactical gear.

In California, agents said they seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition, a two-way radio and an infrared laser pointer from Roa’s residence and vehicle. At Thomas’ home, agents recovered a rifle, 30-round magazines, 180 rounds of ammunition and a pistol.

Thomas allegedly wrote in a group chat on June 7 that “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges” and that the group needed the money “asap,” according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said members of the group also discussed assassinating U.S. senators, representatives and prominent business executives, as well as potential attacks on power grids.

The defendants face charges that include conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds. If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each could face up to life in prison, while the White House grounds charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.