FBI arrests five men accused of plotting sniper and drone attack on White House UFC event
Federal authorities say a group of five men planned to use drones and snipers to target an invite-only UFC fight on the White House lawn, and have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
The Justice Department announced that five men have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder after an FBI investigation uncovered a plot to attack a UFC event held on the White House South Lawn. The suspects – identified as Tycen Proper, Bryan Roa, Michael Thomas, Daniel Eskridge and Abraham Alvarez – were detained in Ohio, California, Missouri and Nebraska.
According to charging documents, the group intended to launch drones to create panic and draw attendees toward a sniper team, followed by a second wave of attackers attempting to breach the White House gate. Prosecutors said the conspirators discussed targeting "high-value" individuals, including wealthy persons and politicians, and expressed grievances about government corruption, the handling of the Epstein case and water usage by data centers.
Proper, 19, reportedly alerted authorities after his mother reported concerns about his firearms purchases and online activity. He told investigators that the group began communicating in March through a TikTok channel called "Vanguard of the Old Republic" and later moved to the encrypted messaging app Signal. A primary chat included about 19 participants, with smaller sub-groups based on roles and locations.
Alvarez was described as the planner responsible for the drone component, while Thomas allegedly outlined a four-tiered operational structure ranging from active attackers to peripheral supporters. The filings also referenced discussions about assassinating U.S. lawmakers and business executives, citing perceived ties to pro-Israel lobbying as a motive.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn called the scheme a "serious threat" but declined to provide further details, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. Each defendant faces up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to murder, with an additional maximum five-year term for conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds.
