Federal prosecutors have charged two additional suspects in connection with an alleged domestic terrorism plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C., bringing the total number of publicly identified defendants to seven as investigators continue to unravel what they describe as a sophisticated conspiracy to launch a coordinated attack on the nation's capital. The newly unsealed court records identify Missouri resident Jordan W. Rincker and Washington state resident William Lee Spartacus Falkner as alleged members of the conspiracy that prosecutors say planned to use explosive-laden drones and prepositioned shooters to create a mass-casualty event.
The Alleged Attack Plan
Investigators allege the group planned to use explosive-laden drones to trigger a mass evacuation of the June 14 event before directing fleeing crowds toward prepositioned shooters. FBI officials previously told Fox News Digital that a "second wave" was then expected to target the White House gate. Falkner allegedly joined a Telegram chat devoted to drone operations on June 7, 15 days ago, and communicated with other alleged conspirators about drone procurement, tactics and the use of explosives, according to the Washington state complaint. Prosecutors allege Falkner discussed obtaining multiple drones through a network of contacts and argued that "the more drones the better." Court records also allege he exchanged messages about drone payloads, anti-jamming measures, fiber optics controls and the number of drones needed to carry out the attack.
The complaint alleges Falkner claimed he could obtain drones capable of carrying heavy explosive payloads and discussed coordinating their acquisition with other members of the group. According to the complaint, Falkner allegedly participated in a Telegram channel known as "D Ops" dedicated to the conspiracy's alleged drone operation. In one exchange cited by prosecutors, a co-conspirator allegedly wrote that the group was "down to 7 days" before the attack and discussed obtaining multiple drones for the operation.
Logistical Support and Equipment Procurement
Prosecutors allege Rincker played a logistical role in the conspiracy. He allegedly accepted a $1,200 cash payment from co-defendant Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, allegedly sent Bryan Omar Roa $100 to help fund Roa's drive from California to Washington and allegedly transferred a pump-action shotgun to Alvarez during an in-person meeting, according to the complaint. The complaint further claims that Roa allegedly began driving from California to Washington on June 11, 11 days ago, to participate in the attack. Federal investigators allege members acquired firearms, ammunition, ballistic gear and other tactical equipment in preparation for the attack. The complaint claims Tycen Proper allegedly acquired several boxes of ammunition, plate carriers, rifles and tactical clothing, while Daniel Eskridge allegedly obtained multiple firearms, a helmet and a ballistic vest. The newly unsealed filing also says that Eskridge allegedly shared a photograph of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet and ballistic vest, with co-conspirators on the encrypted messaging platform SimpleX in May.
Broader Network and Potential Future Targets
According to the newly unsealed complaint, members of the conspiracy allegedly agreed to commit murder on the White House grounds and surrounding area during the UFC Freedom 250 event. The complaint alleges the conspiracy operated from approximately March through June 21, about 3 months through 1 day ago. Prosecutors said the plotters met around March, about 3 months ago, through a TikTok community known as "Vanguard of the Old" where participants shared workout videos and tactical content before moving to encrypted Signal chats. Investigators say the network extended well beyond the five men initially charged. Proper's phone contained a primary Signal chat with approximately 19 alleged participants, according to court records, along with smaller operational chat groups organized by role and location.
The newly unsealed affidavit also suggests investigators were examining whether members of the group discussed a potential future attack targeting a FIFA World Cup match scheduled for July 3, 11 days from today, in Kansas City, Missouri. In the filing, an FBI agent wrote that he believed messages exchanged by alleged ringleader Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez referenced the event and encouraged co-conspirators to prepare to travel to Missouri around the July 4 holiday.
Interagency Tensions Over Public Disclosure
The plot was allegedly disrupted after the mother of Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio defendant in the case, called in a tip to the FBI. A seizure of Proper's phone helped investigators identify other members of the alleged network. Tensions reportedly boiled over between federal agencies over the decision to make the case public. Two senior U.S. officials told Fox News that Secret Service leadership wanted to delay disclosing the investigation until additional arrests could be made, fearing that publicizing the probe could alert other subjects and complicate the ongoing investigation.
FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia told Fox News Digital Monday that the initial five arrests targeted the individuals investigators viewed as the most dangerous members of the alleged conspiracy and that any additional arrests would likely involve suspects who played lesser roles in the plot. "We made a bunch of probable cause arrests before the (UFC) event, we assured the event was safe," Raia said. "We were watching a whole bunch of others to ensure that nobody had come to nobody had come to DC. But we're continuing to make those cases. And so that's why you're seeing folks get kind of picked off."
Why This Matters:
This alleged plot represents one of the most sophisticated domestic terrorism conspiracies targeting the nation's capital in recent memory, with implications for national security protocols and interagency coordination. The alleged use of social media platforms like TikTok for initial recruitment raises questions about the adequacy of current monitoring capabilities and the balance between privacy protections and security imperatives. The reported tensions between the FBI and Secret Service over disclosure timing highlight ongoing challenges in coordinating complex investigations across federal law enforcement agencies. The potential for additional suspects still at large, with investigators tracking approximately 19 alleged participants in the primary Signal chat, underscores the scope of the threat and the resources required to fully neutralize domestic terrorism networks. The alleged discussion of a secondary attack targeting the FIFA World Cup match in Kansas City suggests the conspiracy may have extended beyond a single event, raising concerns about the group's broader operational ambitions and the need for continued vigilance at high-profile public gatherings.