Two Southern California men are among eight people indicted Thursday over an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack at the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last month.
Bryan O. Roa, 25, of Calimesa, and Michael A. Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, were charged alongside six other men in a two-count federal indictment alleging conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and to murder a federal government official.
“The defendants allegedly planned to murder the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, other federal officials, the Prime Minister of Israel, Elon Musk and “other high value targets” at UFC Freedom 250,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
The group allegedly used Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram to recruit members, coordinate training and develop plans for the June 14 attack, according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors allege the defendants stockpiled weapons, ammunition and tactical gear, conducted combat and marksmanship training, selected targets for the UFC Freedom 250 event and developed plans to carry out the attack and escape afterward.
The other defendants are Abraham H. Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Hamilton, Missouri; William L. S. Falkner, 21, of Belfair, Washington; Tycen J. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia.
If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and up to life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder.
