A federal indictment returned in Ohio has charged eight men with murder and terrorism conspiracy charges related to an alleged plan to attack a UFC cage-fighting show at the White House last June. The charges consolidate previous legal actions from various states into a single conspiracy case, as the Department of Justice seeks to streamline the prosecution of the group.
According to the indictment, the plot began in May, with the suspects allegedly amassing firearms, explosives, drones, ammunition, body armor, and medical and communications equipment. Law enforcement officials first identified a potential threat to the June 14, 2026, “Freedom 250” event on June 10. Investigators allege the group members were motivated by fringe conspiracy theories and intended to destabilize the government.
Federal affidavits describe a plan to fly explosive-laden drones into the event, followed by sniper fire on panicked attendees. Prosecutors identified the intended targets as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, businessman Elon Musk, and other high-value officials. The suspects allegedly organized themselves into tiers, with “tier 1” participants committing to engage in illegal acts and combat training.
The eighth defendant, 21-year-old Chandler D. Scaggs of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was charged this week and taken into custody. Investigators allege Scaggs was assigned to act as a sniper. His attorney, Eric Brehm, stated that the defense is currently reviewing the allegations. Other defendants, including 19-year-old Tycen C. Proper of Danville, Ohio, were arrested earlier in locations including Missouri, Nebraska, and California.
While court records do not clarify how close the group came to successfully executing their plan, the charges carry severe penalties. A conviction for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, while the conspiracy to commit murder charge carries a potential life sentence.
