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Trump UFC Event Terror Plot Case Is Unusually Strong for DOJ: Ex-Prosecutor - Newsweek 6%
By Andrew Stanton32%
7/10/2026, 7:12:37 PM
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The Department of Justice ( DOJ ) case against eight people accused of planning an attack during a UFC fight card at the White House is particularly strong, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek on Friday.
Federal law enforcement thwarted the alleged plans to conduct an attack against the UFC Freedom 250 event on June 14 meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On Thursday, the DOJ announced new details about the alleged plot, including that eight defendants are facing charges.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ and attorneys for each defendant for comment via email.
Why White House UFC Case Is So Strong
Rahmani said the case is especially strong because of the amount of written communication by the defendants when planning the attack.
Much of the planning took place over social media apps including Discord, TikTok and Instagram, according to the indictment.
That, historically, has not been the true in all conspiracy cases, according to Rahmani.
“I think it is a strong case because typically when you’re talking about these criminal organizations, you don’t have as much written communication as we have here,” he said in a phone interview.
“We have Signal messages, Discord, Instagram.”
The fact that there appears to be coordination in writing is “very, very strong evidence,” he said.
In other cases, prosecutors would have to rely on cooperators, surveillance or wire taps, he said.
“Typically, when you’re dealing with the mob, a street gang, drug cartels, they’re not communicating in this manner, where everything is in writing,” he said.
As technology becomes better and more widespread, similar cases involving online communication are likely to arise, meaning it's important prosecutors and agents are tech savvy, Rahmani said.
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Names of Eight People Charged
The DOJ released a list of those who have been charged in the case:
Abraham H.
Alvarez of Omaha, Nebraska
Daniel K.
Eskridge of Hamilton, Missouri
William L.
S.
Falkner of Belfair, Washington
Tycen J.
Proper of Danville, Ohio
Jordan W.
Rincker of St.
Louis, Missouri
Bryan O.
Roa of Calimesa, California
Chandler D.
Scaggs of Chapmanville, West Virginia
Michael A.
Thomas of Pinon Hills, California
Scaggs is the latest defendant charged.
The DOJ alleged that he was assigned to be one of the snipers in the plot and that he was to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington.
“Scaggs and others lost contact with Proper upon Proper’s arrest, but Scaggs allegedly indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another coconspirator to pick him up to travel to the UFC Freedom 250 event,” the DOJ wrote in a statement.
Prosecutors alleged that the eight men “ participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram,” where they allegedly “developed plans for attacks, recruited members and encouraged each other to prepare for attacks, including the attack on UFC Freedom 250.”
They allegedly "conspired to provide material support and resources to terrorists in the form of money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communication equipment, personnel and other services."
Timeline of How Alleged Plot Was Planned and Foiled
March 2026: According to a complaint, Proper and other members of the group began talking about the attack via the TikTok group “Vanguard of the Old.”
In the group, they allegedly discussed their belief that the U.S. “needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt.”
Some of the more serious members of the group moved their communications to Signal to plan for an attack at the UFC event.
May 2026: Eskridge allegedly created notes on his cellphone, including a description of the “tier system” they used in their chats.
He also allegedly included personal information about participants, according to court filings.
May 13, 2026: In one message, Proper allegedly wrote: “I got a possible target Marsha Blackburn senator for Tennessee,” according to the complaint.
May 24, 2026: Roa and Thomas allegedly met in California to train in marksmanship and combat tactics.
May 31, 2026: Proper allegedly sent a list of potential targets, including GOP West Virginia Senators Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito and GOP West Virginia Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore.
June 5, 2026: Proper allegedly purchased a shotgun in Ohio.
June 7, 2026: Falkner allegedly reached out to a person on Instagram asking if they “wanna make some money” and asked them to set up a 3D printer.
According to filings, he said he needed five drone frames within seven days.
June 8, 2026: Scaggs sent his address to Proper to pick him up on the way to Washington.
June 9, 2026: Proper quit his job.
June 10, 2026: Police received a call from Proper’s mother concerned about her son because of recent firearms purchases and online communications.
Police arrived at his home to begin investigating.
Proper was taken to a local hospital, where police submitted an emergency application for admission.
June 11, 2026: Federal law enforcement interviewed Proper’s mother and executed a search warrant at his home, according to the complaint.
They found boxes of ammunition, spent cartridge casings and other tactical clothing.
They also executed a warrant on his phone and uncovered communications.
During an interview with an agent, he allegedly admitted to planning the attack.
The same day, Roa quit his job and began traveling to Washington.
Alvarez planned to meet with Rincker on June 12 to provide him with a 3D printer.
June 12, 2026: Falkner and Thomas sent money to Roa, who said he had car trouble on his way to Washington.
Rincker drove to Omaha, Nebraska, to meet with Alvarez and received the 3D printer, which was to be used to make drones.
Rincker also obtained gear from Alvarez and brought a shotgun and bandolier containing ammunition to give to Alvarez, according to the indictment.
June 16, 2026: The DOJ announced that five men had been arrested and charged in connection with the plot.
June 22, 2026: The DOJ announced the arrests of Rincker and Falkner.
July 9, 2026: All eight men were consolidated into a single federal indictment charging them with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal territory.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Dave Siminoff .
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