Total of 8 suspects now indicted in alleged plot to attack White House UFC event
A total of eight men have been indicted for their alleged roles in the plot to attack a UFC event on the grounds of the White House last month, according to federal prosecutors.
The men allegedly wanted to use drones to create a diversion, and then use snipers to attack attendees fleeing from the June 14 event on the South Lawn of the White House, according to the Justice Department.
Authorities arrested five men in connection with the alleged plot on the weekend it took place and another two suspects the following week.
The indictment, unveiled Thursday, includes an eighth defendant -- Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, who was allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers in the attack, according to the Justice Department.
Scaggs was allegedly planning to be picked up by Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, another alleged coconspirator, and to travel to Washington, D.C., with him, according to prosecutors. Scaggs and other alleged members of the plot lost contact with Proper after he was arrested by federal authorities.
According to prosecutors, after losing contact with Proper, Scaggs allegedly made new plans to travel to Washington, D.C., and indicated he still wanted to carry out the attack.
Scaggs was taken into custody in West Virginia.
An attorney for Scaggs said his office is in "the very early stages of gathering and reviewing the government's evidentiary materials."
"Because of the serious nature of the allegations, I decline any further comment until I've had an opportunity to more thoroughly review this matter," Eric Brehm, who is representing Scaggs told ABC News.
The seven people initially arrested were previously charged by criminal complaint in various districts around the country. However, the two-count indictment by a grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, replaces the initial charges.
The indictment charges all eight men with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.
An attorney for Proper said he will enter a not guilty plea.
"We have received a copy of the indictment that was returned today," Joseph Patituce, an attorney representing Proper, told ABC News. "Mr. Proper will enter a plea of not guilty and as we move forward we will carefully review the charges against him and go step by step from there. We ask that the public keep an open mind and remember that he is 19 years old, the youngest of any person charged here."
The men allegedly wanted to attack "high value targets" such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and the Prime Minster of Israel, according to prosecutors.
The men "created, organized, and participated in a structured system of action, including a 'tier' system to classify participants in the conspiracy, with "tier one" participants committing "to put themselves in harms [sic] way, break the law, and potentially go into hiding," according to court records.
In addition to Scaggs and Proper, the other defendants are: Abraham Alvarez, 31, of Omaha; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Hamilton, Missouri; William L.S. Falkner, 21, of Belfair, Washington; Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Bryan O. Roa, 25, of Calimesa, California and Michael Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California.
If convicted, all eight men could each face up to life in prison.
Authorities have said concerned phone calls by Proper's mother helped tip off authorities to what would become a nationwide investigation into the alleged plot. She raised concerns to police about his recent amassing of firearms and troubling conversations with individuals online, according to authorities.
