Eight Men Charged in Alleged Plot to Attack UFC Event at White House

Federal prosecutors in Ohio filed a two-count indictment charging eight men with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory. The indictment, returned in Columbus, supersedes earlier individual complaints filed in multiple districts and consolidates the case.

All eight defendants now face the same charges stemming from an alleged plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14.

Law enforcement learned of the possible threat on June 10, four days before the scheduled event. Officials arrested five defendants the weekend of the event and two more approximately one week later. An eighth defendant was taken into custody in West Virginia this week.

The indictment states the group began amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, and communications gear starting in May.

The defendants allegedly communicated through online chat groups on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok, and Instagram. According to the indictment, they developed attack plans, recruited members, and encouraged one another to prepare for the White House event.

One defendant was allegedly assigned a sniper role and had arranged to be picked up for travel to Washington, D.C. After losing contact with another participant, the group reportedly made alternative pickup plans.

The first count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years to life in prison. The second count carries a potential life sentence with no parole. Prosecutors chose the Southern District of Ohio because the initial complaint originated there. The indictment replaces separate criminal complaints previously filed in Missouri, Nebraska, California, and Washington.