The terror plot against the UFC event at the White House last month got closer to success than first thought. And eight men now face life sentences for their plans to murder people as a way to 'destabilize' the US government.
The Department of Justice announced the additional arrests yesterday, and unveiled an indictment in Ohio. Law enforcement arrested an eighth defendant this week in West Virginia, but the plot involved participants from coast to coast. The new indictment supersedes other individual indictments filed last month and consolidates the case to Ohio:
A total of eight defendants now face federal charges related to the alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14. All eight men were charged together in a two-count indictment returned in Columbus today.
The indictment stems from an initial investigation and criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Ohio against Tycen C. Proper 19, of Danville, Ohio. Proper and four others charged federally by criminal complaint in Missouri, Nebraska and California were arrested the weekend of the UFC event. Two more defendants were charged by criminal complaint and arrested by the FBI approximately one week later in Washington and Missouri.
This week, an eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was taken into custody in West Virginia. Scaggs was allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers in the plotted attack. An affidavit details that Scaggs was to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington, D.C. Scaggs and others lost contact with Proper upon Proper’s arrest, but Scaggs allegedly indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another coconspirator to pick him up to travel to the UFC Freedom 250 event.
To get the real feel of the idiocy of this group, all one has to do is review the names they used as their alter egos. "Shriveled Shlong" might be the most honest of them (Jordan W. Rinker). One called himself "Viper of the S.O.G.," while another called himself "Whiskey Six." The most aspirational of these wanna-be alleged terrorists called himself "Noble" while allegedly participating in a conspiracy to maximize civilian casualties in a terror attack on an entertainment venue.
The indictment opts for simplicity, at least for now:
The indictment charges all eight men in two conspiracies: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. The indictment replaces the initial charges filed in criminal complaints in various Districts across the country.
According to the indictment, starting in May 2026, the defendants conspired to provide material support and resources to terrorists in the form of money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communication equipment, personnel and other services.
The eight men allegedly participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram. Throughout these communications, they allegedly developed plans for attacks, recruited members and encouraged each other to prepare for attacks, including the attack on UFC Freedom 250.
The DoJ notes that the first count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years to life. However, the second count will carry straight life sentences. And in federal prison, that means no parole opportunities for decades, assuming conviction.
Just how close did they come? According to the Associated Press, the plan was four days from launching when law enforcement officials first heard about it:
According to the new indictment, the plot began in May, when the group began amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications equipment and other items.
It was on June 10 that law enforcement officials learned about a possible threat to President Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting show, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza was scheduled to take place.
That cuts a little too close for comfort.
One question does come up in this announcement: why Ohio? That's where the initial complaint was filed last month against "Prox," but other states might have sufficed. Two defendants each come from Missouri and California, and West Virginia is the closest to the plot target. The answer to that is likely prosaic; the investigation probably started in that US Attorney office, given the initial indictment. Still, it's worth noting with some relief that prosecutors will not have to deal with jury pools in DC, California, or the state of Washington.
Let's hope for swift and complete justice in this case. We need to set very harsh deterrents for radicals, and this DoJ has exhibited enthusiasm for that mission already with its convictions and long prison sentences for Antifa radicals in their Texas attack on immigration officials. More, please.
Addendum: In case you're too young to get the headline reference, allow me to include the Andrews Sisters into the chat. And get off my damn lawn, you whippersnappers.
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