In a major counter‑terrorism success, the FBI announced on Tuesday it had disrupted a plot aimed at the White House during a UFC event on Sunday, Friday night. Five men were arrested across Ohio, California, Missouri and Nebraska for conspiracy to commit murder and other charges related to the sabotage plan.
Prosecutors say the conspirators intended to use explosive‑laden drones and snipers to strike surrounding buildings and funnel the viewing crowd toward “high‑value targets.” The plan, described as a “second wave” attack, would have followed an initial drone strike, drawing the crowd toward a sniper team and then a ground assault on the White House gate.
The suspects are identified as Tycen C. Proper (19), Bryan O. Roa (24), Michael A. Thomas (32), Daniel K. Eskridge (32) and Abraham H. Alvarez (31). All are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds, the Department of Justice said. Alvarez, the alleged mastermind, is charged with additional offenses that could add up to five years in prison.
The group communicated through a TikTok community called “Vanguard of the Old” (sometimes listed as “Vanguard of the Old Republic”), which recruited members in the spring of 2024. Proper, the suspect arrested in Ohio, told FBI agents that encrypted messages were exchanged regarding the plan, and his mother had called authorities when she noticed his large firearms purchases and disturbing online chats.
During the event, an invited crowd of 4,300 attended the UFC fight on the White House South Lawn, with an additional 85,000 watching nearby. The plot targeted key figures present, including President Donald Trump, but not all guests attended the event.
Each suspect faces up to a life sentence and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to murder. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 29th.
