FBI arrests five over alleged drone attack plot at UFC White House

Federal agents arrested five men accused of plotting a mass casualty attack at UFC Freedom 250, the White House event held on June 14, according to a Department of Justice release. Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, allegedly planned to deploy explosives-armed drones followed by sniper fire targeting politicians in the crowd.

Prosecutors say the suspects coordinated via Signal and TikTok to force an evacuation, then pick off fleeing attendees. The MMA Draw reports that Proper's parents contacted police days before the event after noticing firearm purchases and camping gear stockpiles. According to FBI Task Force Officer Christopher Betts, Proper spent $3,000 of graduation money on a shotgun, rifle, ammunition, ballistic plates, and plate carriers. His mother told investigators he had grown upset over corruption related to the Epstein Files and was mapping Washington locations with individuals claiming to be ex-military.

How the conspiracy unraveled

Proper reportedly cooperated with the FBI during an interview at Dublin Springs Mental Health center in Columbus, Ohio, and admitted planning a coordinated attack against government officials. Court documents describe a multi-state conspiracy with suspects from California's Riverside County, Ohio, Missouri, and Nebraska. The group allegedly targeted lawmakers for their support of Israel and perceived inaction on the Epstein Files, per The MMA Draw.

Despite millions spent on Department of Homeland Security assets to protect the event, the plot was foiled by what The MMA Draw called "dumb luck" — a concerned parent's call. Prosecutors moved quickly to seal and redact portions of the criminal complaints and affidavits filed in federal courts across multiple jurisdictions.

The UFC Freedom 250 event, promoted on President Trump's birthday and attended by Republican lawmakers including Senator Ted Cruz, proceeded without incident. All five suspects face federal conspiracy charges with hearings scheduled in their respective jurisdictions over the coming weeks.

Source: themmadraw.com