5 men allegedly involved in plot to attack White House UFC cage-fighting show

LOS ANGELES — Five suspects have been arrested for allegedly plotting to kill government officials and others attending the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House last weekend, according to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.

Bryan Roa, 24, of Calimesa and Michael Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Also arrested were Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Authorities said the plot appears to have been motivated by anti-government ideology.

The co-conspirators allegedly discussed using drones to drop explosives on the north side of the White House to create panic and funnel event attendees toward locations where they would have snipers ready to kill certain high-value targets, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Central District of California and made public Tuesday.

Authorities said Thomas admitted to helping plan the attack and encouraging others to take part. The court filings said that Roa denied any involvement in the conspiracy. They were arrested Saturday, the day before the event on the White House lawn.

Roa and Thomas made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Riverside on Monday and were ordered jailed without bond. Roa’s arraignment is scheduled for July 7. Thomas’ arraignment is scheduled for July 21.

In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said authorities became aware of a potential threat on June 10.

“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel wrote.

In an interview with the FBI on June 11, Proper identified Roa and Thomas as co-conspirators, according to the criminal complaint.

FBI agents found firearms, a tactical belt and radios inside Roa’s car. Inside Thomas’ home, investigators described finding a pistol, a hunting rifle, an AR-style rifle and several 30-round ammunition magazines.

In an interview with FBI agents, Thomas allegedly told authorities the aim of the attack and future ones was to create enough chaos to bring about the overthrow of the U.S. government, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities said he indicated his belief that the U.S. government is run by an elite group of individuals who sacrifice and consume infants. According to the complaint, Thomas also mentioned the disgraced financier Jeffery Epstein, who was accused of sex-trafficking girls and young women, and said Epstein’s associates are now protected by President Donald Trump.

The investigation began in Ohio on June 10 after Proper’s mother reported concerns about her son’s recent conduct, including firearms purchases and communications with concerning people online, according to the criminal complaint.

When officers arrived at the residence that night, another family member told the police that Proper was planning to leave the upcoming weekend to meet with online individuals and said he had also recently acquired camping gear, food, ballistic plates for body armor, a new shotgun, a rifle, “lots” of ammunition, extra magazines and plate carriers.

Proper was transported to a hospital, the complaint said, where law enforcement submitted an application for an emergency admission based on his homicidal ideations. The following day, the FBI searched Proper’s home and found a journal in which he wrote about the government seeking to control people and sacrifice children and others to a demonic figure.

Authorities said the journal contained a list of about 46 names, which included celebrities and politicians. When authorities searched his iPhone, “investigators observed chats on Signal groups that laid out detailed plans to conduct an attack in Washington, D.C., with several unidentified co-conspirators,” according to the complaint.

“In those chats, law enforcement saw detailed imagery of the National Capitol Region and maps of the area with different potential sniper locations highlighted, potential drone launch locations identified, and other detailed tactical planning locations,” the complaint states.

When FBI investigators interviewed Proper at the mental health center, he allegedly admitted to planning a coordinated attack against the government that would occur during UFC Freedom 250.

In chats in May, according to the complaint, Proper allegedly identified a U.S. senator as a target because the senator had taken money from the “pro Israel lobby and supports them.” He also sent images of four members of Congress who he believed had received money “from pro-Israel PACS,” the court filing said.

Proper provided authorities with the TikTok usernames of others in the group, which included Roa and Thomas.

An assistant federal public defender assigned to represent Proper, who is charged with firearms offenses and crimes including attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States, did not immediately return messages seeking comment from the Associated Press. Proper made an initial court appearance Monday in Columbus, Ohio, and faces a detention hearing Wednesday, the news agency reported.

According to the complaint filed in California federal court, Roa and Thomas met at least once in the last month to practice marksmanship and tactics.

Roa later told authorities that he had planned to attend the UFC event only as a protester, but his vehicle malfunctioned and he had to return home. His family members told law enforcement that Roa said one day they would wake up and he would be gone, and that he intended to travel to Washington, where “something big” would happen.

“ROA’s family members also believed he intended to commit an act of violence during this trip due to his increased time spent shooting his weapons and a noticeable change in behavior including increased anxiety, irritation, and seclusion,” the complaint states.

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