Federal authorities disrupted an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event held Sunday on the White House South Lawn, according to criminal complaints and affidavits unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors allege five men—Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez of Nebraska, and California residents Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas—planned to use explosive-laden drones to drive attendees from the venue before shooters targeted politicians and other high-value targets. FBI Director Kash Patel stated on X that the FBI became aware of the potential threat on June 10 and multiple individuals are now in custody. The event drew thousands of high-profile spectators including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and featured sponsorships from crypto firms including Crypto.com, Polymarket, World Liberty Financial, and Exodus.
FBI Disrupts Alleged Drone and Shooter Plot Targeting UFC Event
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that the FBI and law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. on June 10 involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region. Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped, according to Patel's statement.
According to the filing, the suspects planned to use explosive-laden drones to detonate over the UFC venue. FBI Task Force Officer Christopher Betts wrote in the complaint that Proper stated the plan was for members of his group to act as snipers and additional shooters, preferably with long guns, staged at or near the southern evacuation point to conduct shootings of crowd members and high-value targets as they fled from the explosive devices.
Proper allegedly told investigators the goal was to "jump-start" a revolution in the United States.
Crypto Firms Sponsor White House UFC Freedom 250 Event
The UFC Freedom 250 card served as a showcase for the crypto industry. Crypto.com, Exodus, World Liberty Financial, and Polymarket participated through sponsorships and promotions—including a $1 million CRO token bonus pool, along with $250,000 in USD1 stablecoins.
By the time authorities foiled the plot, UFC Freedom 250 had drawn thousands of high-profile spectators, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress.
Investigation Begins After Family Reports Suspect's Behavior
The investigation began after Proper's family contacted law enforcement about his recent behavior, firearms purchases, and online activity. According to the filings, investigators recovered discussions involving sniper positions, drone launch sites, escape routes, safe houses, and other operational planning materials.
According to Proper's mother, the group included members who claimed to be ex-military and Christian-based. FBI Task Force Officer Christopher Betts wrote that Proper's mother detailed that talking with these individuals online caused Proper to lean heavily into his religion, and she believed those individuals were using religion to manipulate and influence her son.
According to the filing, Proper told investigators that members of a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old" began communicating in March before moving discussions to Signal. The group planned to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and travel to Washington, D.C., where drones carrying explosives would detonate over the UFC venue, investigators said.
Suspects Cite Government Corruption and AI Data Centers as Grievances
Among the group's grievances were complaints about government corruption, the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, and the spread of AI data centers, according to court filings.
Iran-Linked Group Issues Separate Drone Threats Against FIFA World Cup
The allegations mark the second high-profile drone-related threat to major events in recent weeks. On Friday, the Iran-linked hacking group Handala claimed it had accessed footage from FBI surveillance drones and made threats against teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that first-person-view drones could be used against tournament participants.
Federal officials said the UFC Freedom 250 event itself was never at risk because of the investigation and law enforcement response. Patel said on X that while the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team. "We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens—particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight," Patel stated.
FAQ
What did the FBI disrupt at the UFC Freedom 250 event?
Federal authorities disrupted an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event held Sunday on the White House South Lawn. Prosecutors allege five men planned to use explosive-laden drones to drive attendees from the venue before shooters targeted politicians and other high-value targets. The FBI became aware of the potential threat on June 10 and multiple individuals are now in custody.
Which crypto firms sponsored the White House UFC event?
The UFC Freedom 250 event featured sponsorships and promotions from Crypto.com, Exodus, World Liberty Financial, and Polymarket. Crypto.com provided a $1 million CRO token bonus pool, along with $250,000 in USD1 stablecoins.
How did the FBI investigation into the drone plot begin?
The investigation began after Tycen Proper's family contacted law enforcement about his recent behavior, firearms purchases, and online activity. Investigators recovered discussions involving sniper positions, drone launch sites, escape routes, safe houses, and other operational planning materials. According to the filing, Proper told investigators that members of a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old" began communicating in March before moving discussions to Signal.
