A coordinated terror plot targeting former President Donald Trump and other high-profile public figures at a June White House mixed martial arts event has led to terrorism charges against eight men across the United States, federal law enforcement officials have confirmed. The alleged conspiracy, which prosecutors say aimed to spark a national revolution by attacking the invite-only gathering, was foiled only after a concerned mother tipped off authorities weeks before the event was set to take place.
The June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event, held on the White House South Lawn to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, drew roughly 4,300 attendees. Among those present were President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior White House cabinet officials, and sitting members of Congress. The gathering also fell on Trump’s 80th birthday, marking it as a high-profile national event.
According to federal court documents and statements from prosecutors, the conspiracy was uncovered on June 10, four days before the event, when the mother of 20-year-old suspect Tycen J Proper contacted local law enforcement. She raised alarm over her son’s recent large purchases of firearms and his communications with an online group calling itself a network of former military service members aligned with Christian values. Prosecutors note the group shared extensive grievances over a range of political issues, including alleged government corruption, the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, and the impact of data centers on local water supplies.
The FBI says Proper admitted the group’s core goal was to “jumpstart a revolution in the United States” by launching a coordinated attack on the UFC event. Prosecutors outline a multi-phase plot: first, explosive-laden drones would strike adjacent buildings to trigger mass panic, driving fleeing attendees toward an positioned sniper team waiting to open fire on “high value targets.” A second wave of attackers would then storm the main gate of the White House to continue the assault.
Court filings linked to co-defendant Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez confirm the group compiled a target list that included Trump, Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, business leader Elon Musk, and multiple sitting elected officials. Though not all targets ultimately attended the June 14 event, law enforcement notes the attack plan remained in motion.
The eight co-conspirators, ranging in age from 19 to 32, face three core charges: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property, and conspiracy to murder a federal official. The final suspect, Chandler D Scaggs, was taken into custody earlier this week in West Virginia, wrapping up the arrest of all eight alleged plotters. If convicted on the murder conspiracy charges, each defendant faces a possible life prison sentence, while the terrorism offense carries a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.
Law enforcement records show the defendants were based across the country, with residences stretching from California to Missouri and Nebraska. Proper told investigators the group first began organizing in March, with most new members recruited through the social media platform TikTok. The group planned the attack using a range of encrypted and mainstream communication platforms, including Signal, Instagram, and Discord, according to officials. Investigators have not yet confirmed any formal affiliation between the group and larger established domestic or international extremist organizations.
A ninth individual, Alexander Iniguez Mercado, was arrested last week on a separate charge of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege Mercado deleted the Signal messaging app from his phone after being contacted by an FBI agent, intentionally wiping potential evidence linking him to the plot. He has pleaded not guilty to the obstruction charge.
The foiled plot marks the third high-profile security incident near the president in less than three months. In April, a shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents Dinner that Trump attended, and in May a man was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire at a White House security checkpoint.