Federal officials say the plan involved explosive drones, snipers and a crowd fleeing the South Lawn event.
WASHINGTON, DC — Federal officials charged five men Tuesday in an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, saying investigators stopped a plan to kill government officials and others before it could be carried out.
The case centers on a high-profile event held Sunday on the White House grounds during President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday weekend and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The Justice Department said the FBI learned of a threat June 10, opened a fast-moving investigation and made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California.
The five defendants are 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 they conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty attack at the event. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents and partner agencies became aware of a potential threat involving people outside the National Capital Region and stopped the alleged attacks through a multistate operation. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said authorities would move quickly against people accused of planning violence.
According to the charges, the alleged plan called for small drones carrying explosives to be flown in and around the UFC venue. Prosecutors said the blasts were meant to force people to evacuate, after which snipers would fire at “high value targets” in the fleeing crowd. Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, speaking about the case on Fox News, called the alleged plan a “second wave” strategy and warned that it was designed for “unimaginable” casualties. Officials said the attack did not happen, and the White House event went forward without incident.
Investigators said the case began after Proper’s mother contacted local authorities in Ohio on June 10 because she was worried about his recent conduct, firearms purchases and online contacts. Court filings say Proper later told investigators that members of an online group began communicating around March and later moved serious planning to an encrypted chat app. The group allegedly discussed a White House attack by early June, including drones, explosives, rooftops and snipers. Prosecutors said some members planned to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before traveling toward Washington.
The Justice Department said court records describe different roles for the five men. Proper allegedly described the broader plan to investigators. Alvarez was accused of helping lead the group under an online name and organizing members into tiers based on tasks such as weapons, supplies, driving, funding and online influence. Roa and Thomas were accused in California filings of communicating with others about the attack. Investigators said Thomas admitted helping plan the attack and encouraging others to take part. Eskridge was also charged in the alleged conspiracy. The defendants have been arrested and were being held pending further court proceedings.
Searches tied to the investigation turned up weapons, ammunition and tactical gear, according to law enforcement accounts cited in reporting on the case. Federal officials said no drones had been recovered as of Tuesday, and investigators were still working to determine how far the drone portion of the plan had advanced. Court records said the alleged group discussed spending money on drones and explosive charges. Prosecutors also said the suspects’ messages included maps, references to the White House grounds and lists of possible targets that included senior government figures and wealthy attendees.
The UFC Freedom 250 event drew thousands to the White House area and placed a sports arena on one of the most heavily guarded sites in the country. Trump attended the fights, which were promoted as part of the broader anniversary celebration. Federal officials said the alleged plot showed the changing nature of threats around large public gatherings, including the possible use of small drones. U.S. Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran said protecting the president and the White House grounds is the agency’s top priority, adding that the threat landscape has changed and requires close work with federal and local partners.
Officials have not said that any defendant successfully brought explosives or drones to Washington. They also have not publicly identified all people who may have been part of the broader online network. Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing, and additional evidence may come through court filings, detention hearings and search warrant records. The charges announced Tuesday include conspiracy counts tied to the alleged murder plot and other federal offenses. Attorney information for all defendants was not immediately clear in the public record, and prosecutors said the allegations must be proven in court.
The next phase of the case will move through federal courts in several states, where judges are expected to handle detention, transfer and preliminary proceedings. Federal investigators are also reviewing seized phones, online chats, weapons records and travel information. As of Wednesday, the five named defendants remained in custody, and officials said the broader investigation into the alleged White House UFC plot remains open.
Author note: Last updated June 17, 2026.