Five accused over alleged drone attack plot during UFC event at the White House
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on June 16, 2026, that five men had been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event, held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, on the grounds of the White House in Washington. According to the announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the suspects allegedly planned an attack on government officials and other people who attended the sporting event. Federal investigators claim the plan included the use of drones equipped with explosives to trigger an evacuation, after which selected targets in the crowd would be fired upon. The Department of Justice states that the FBI made arrests in several states before the plan could be carried out. The investigation is ongoing, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
UFC Freedom 250 was an exceptionally unusual sporting event because the fights were held on the South Lawn of the White House, as part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. According to a CBS News report, the event also coincided with the 80th birthday of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was among those present. UFC announced the event as a live show from Washington, and the main card was broadcast on June 14 in the evening hours Eastern Time. According to UFC's official results, the main event ended with Justin Gaethje defeating Ilia Topuria, giving Gaethje the lightweight title. The security significance of the event was especially great because it took place in one of the most protected spaces in the United States and gathered senior political officials, businesspeople, athletes and other guests.
What federal prosecutors allege
According to the Department of Justice, the defendants are Tycen C. Proper, a 19-year-old from Danville, Ohio, Bryan Omar Roa, a 24-year-old from Calimesa, California, Michael Alan Thomas, a 32-year-old from Pinon Hills, California, Daniel K. Eskridge, a 32-year-old from Kidder, Missouri, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, a 31-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska. Federal prosecutors claim that the suspects were part of a group that obtained weapons, ammunition and tactical equipment and developed an attack on the event in Washington. According to the charges, the goal was to cause mass panic and evacuation, and then exploit the chaos to shoot at so-called high-value targets. The Department of Justice states that U.S. officials, members of Congress and prominent businesspeople were mentioned in the group's communications. The statement does not say that the attack was carried out, but that the alleged plan was stopped before implementation.
In the official announcement, prosecutors state that investigators interviewed Proper on June 11 in a medical facility and that he, according to court filings, admitted that he had planned a coordinated attack with other people during the UFC event at the White House. According to the Department of Justice, Proper told investigators that members of the group began communicating around March, and that the more serious participants later moved to an encrypted messaging application. Prosecutors claim that the group allegedly considered using small drones with explosives to cause an evacuation and deploying armed attackers who would shoot at people as they left the area. The announcement also states that some members of the group were supposed to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before the attack. These allegations are currently part of the charging material and have not been proven in court.
Arrests in four states
According to the Department of Justice, the FBI arrested the suspects over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California, and the investigation was launched on June 10 in the Southern District of Ohio. FBI Director Kash Patel said, according to the Department of Justice announcement, that the FBI and partner agencies learned on June 10 of a possible threat to the event in Washington involving individuals from outside the capital area. Patel stated that the rapid response by the FBI, the Department of Justice and partner services in a multistate operation led to the arrests and the prevention of the alleged attacks. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that federal services, according to the statement, acted quickly to investigate, disrupt and expose the alleged plot before it could be carried out. The U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president and the White House complex, also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Park Police and the Washington police.
According to ABC News, authorities had five people in custody on the morning of June 16, and court documents described the suspects' communication on the Signal app and the travel of some individuals toward Virginia shortly before the event. ABC News, citing authorities and court documents, reported that drones equipped with explosives were allegedly supposed to hit objects nearby in order to trigger a mass evacuation. The same report states that services had earlier in June warned in a security bulletin that the fights at the White House were a symbolically attractive target, although no specific credible threat had been identified at that time. These details further show why the event, regardless of its sporting character, was treated as a high-risk public gathering. At the center of the investigation now is the question of how far the alleged plan had advanced and whether any other people took part in it.
Weapons, communication and alleged roles
According to the Department of Justice, the investigation included searches of the suspects' homes, vehicles and electronic devices. In Proper's case, prosecutors state that he allegedly gathered firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment at his home in Ohio. As for Bryan Roa, according to the announcement, investigators claim that during a search of his residence and vehicle they found a rifle, a pistol, a tactical belt, ammunition, a rifle magazine, a two-way radio and an infrared laser pointer. On his phone, according to prosecutors' allegations, messages were found in a group that included Thomas, Proper and others, in which the attack on the UFC event at the White House was discussed. Such allegations do not mean that guilt has been proven, but represent claims that the prosecution will have to support in court proceedings.
In the case of Michael Alan Thomas, federal prosecutors claim that he participated in group conversations about planning the attack and defining roles within the alleged anti-government group. The Department of Justice states that FBI agents seized a rifle, extended magazines, ammunition and a pistol during a search of his home on June 13. For Daniel K. Eskridge, according to the official announcement, investigators claim that they linked him to electronic communication found on Proper's mobile phone, including conversations about possible targets and equipment. In the case of Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, prosecutors claim that he used the nickname "Shepherd" in the encrypted application and that, according to the FBI assessment cited in the documents, he had an organizational role in the planning. The Department of Justice states that these claims were presented in criminal complaints filed in several federal judicial districts.
An event under heightened security and political scrutiny
UFC Freedom 250 had already attracted attention before it was held because of its location and political context. CBS News reported that it was the first time UFC fights were held on the White House grounds, and the event was part of a broader program marking America's 250th anniversary of independence. On the official White House website, the Freedom 250 program was presented as a series of celebrations ahead of July 4, 2026, the date marking 250 years since the American Declaration of Independence. CBS News also reported that the fights took place under a large structure known as "The Claw" and that they were watched by guests and audiences at nearby locations. Because it was held on federal grounds, with the president present and with the symbolism of the anniversary, the event was incomparably more sensitive than ordinary sporting events.
Security experts often warn that large public events, especially those with political symbolism and the presence of senior officials, can become targets for individuals or groups that want to attract widespread attention. In this case, according to the Department of Justice's allegations, the alleged plan was aimed not only at physical harm but also at creating mass panic and a chaotic evacuation. In such a scenario, the security system must protect both people in the protected area and those gathered in surrounding public spaces. That is precisely why, according to official allegations, federal and local services from multiple jurisdictions took part in the investigation. Not all details of the operation have been released to the public so far, which is common in cases where the investigation is still ongoing and there is a possibility of new procedural actions.
What the possible penalties are
The Department of Justice states that the defendants face very serious penalties if convicted. According to the official statement, for conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant may face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a fine of up to 250,000 dollars. For conspiracy to commit violence on the grounds of the White House, the maximum penalty is up to five years in prison. ABC News reported that Proper, according to the criminal complaint in Ohio, was additionally connected with charges including conspiracy against the United States, attempted murder of a U.S. officer and firearms-related charges. The final classification of the charges, the course of the proceedings and any eventual penalties will depend on court decisions, evidence and further moves by the prosecution and the defense.
It is important to emphasize that a criminal complaint and a prosecutor's statement do not constitute a verdict. The Department of Justice expressly states that the criminal complaint contains only allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Such wording is not just a formality, but a foundation of American criminal procedure and the protection of defendants' rights. In practice, this means that the prosecution will have to present evidence before the court, while the defense will have the right to challenge the allegations, evidence and conduct of investigative bodies. Since the investigation is still ongoing, it is possible that the list of charges, the description of events or the number of people involved in the case will change as the proceedings move forward.
Broader significance of the case
The alleged attack plan during the UFC Freedom 250 event again raises the issue of protecting large gatherings where sport, politics, media visibility and symbolically important places intersect at the same time. According to available information, federal services believe the threat was stopped before it could turn into an actual attack, but the very level of preparation described by prosecutors shows how quickly online communication can turn into a criminal investigation. Particular attention was drawn by investigators' claim that some participants connected through online groups and encrypted applications, which further complicates the early identification of threats. At the same time, this case shows the importance of tips from family members and local services, because, according to ABC News and court documents, concerns from Proper's family preceded the broader intervention by investigators. For the public, it will be crucial to distinguish confirmed facts from allegations that still have to be proven.
The event in Washington remains recorded as one of the most unusual sporting events held in the United States, but also as an event around which a major security issue emerged. After the event, UFC published the results and highlighted the martial arts aspect of the evening, while two days later federal authorities placed the criminal case and the alleged threat of mass violence in the foreground. According to the Department of Justice, the investigation remains open, and the public will be informed of new information when permitted. At this moment, it has not been officially confirmed whether all individuals connected with the alleged plot have been identified, nor whether additional charges are possible. As the proceedings continue, the case will likely remain under scrutiny because of the location of the event, the nature of the charges and the broader debate about the security of politically exposed public gatherings.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio – official statement on the arrests, charges, alleged plot and possible penalties (link)
- ABC News – report on court documents, the course of the arrests, the alleged use of drones and the security context of the event (link)
- CBS News – report on the holding of the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House, guests present and political context (link)
- UFC – official event page for UFC Freedom 250 with information about the location, date and broadcast (link)
- UFC – official results and fight summary for the UFC Freedom 250 event (link)
- The White House – official page of the Freedom 250 program and context of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence (link)