Topline: Two of the eight men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting a White House UFC event pleaded not guilty as prosecutors outlined a case they say was stopped just days before the show.
Published: July 19, 2026 4:30 pm ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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COLUMBUS, OH — Two men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting President Donald Trump’s UFC event on the White House lawn pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court, opening what prosecutors say is a case built around plans for a mass-casualty attack at a high-profile public celebration.
According to Associated Press reporting published by WDIV, Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered the pleas before U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr., who scheduled trial for Sept. 14 in Ohio, where the case has been consolidated.
Proper, Scaggs and six other defendants are each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Prosecutors say the alleged target was UFC Freedom 250, the June 14 cage-fighting event held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The reporting says the alleged plot began in May, when members of the group started amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications gear and other supplies. Authorities said they learned of a possible threat on June 10, four days before the event was scheduled to take place.
A federal affidavit says one defendant told investigators the plan was to send explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled. Prosecutors also allege the group hoped the attack would destabilize the government and targeted Trump, Vice President JD Vance, other federal officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk and other so-called high-value targets.
Four of the defendants were arrested the weekend of the event in Missouri, Nebraska and California, while two more were arrested about a week later in Washington and Missouri, according to the reporting. Scaggs was charged later and taken into custody in West Virginia. Attorneys for Proper and Scaggs declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing.
The material-support conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, while the murder conspiracy charge carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Two Men Plead Not Guilty In Alleged White House UFC Attack Plot
Two of the eight men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting a White House UFC event pleaded not guilty as prosecutors outlined a case they say was stopped just days before the show.
By Randy Shaw
Published: July 19, 2026 4:30 pm ET
COLUMBUS, OH — Two men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting President Donald Trump’s UFC event on the White House lawn pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court, opening what prosecutors say is a case built around plans for a mass-casualty attack at a high-profile public celebration.
According to Associated Press reporting published by WDIV, Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered the pleas before U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr., who scheduled trial for Sept. 14 in Ohio, where the case has been consolidated.
Proper, Scaggs and six other defendants are each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Prosecutors say the alleged target was UFC Freedom 250, the June 14 cage-fighting event held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The reporting says the alleged plot began in May, when members of the group started amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications gear and other supplies. Authorities said they learned of a possible threat on June 10, four days before the event was scheduled to take place.
A federal affidavit says one defendant told investigators the plan was to send explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled. Prosecutors also allege the group hoped the attack would destabilize the government and targeted Trump, Vice President JD Vance, other federal officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk and other so-called high-value targets.
Four of the defendants were arrested the weekend of the event in Missouri, Nebraska and California, while two more were arrested about a week later in Washington and Missouri, according to the reporting. Scaggs was charged later and taken into custody in West Virginia. Attorneys for Proper and Scaggs declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing.
The material-support conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, while the murder conspiracy charge carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Two Men Plead Not Guilty In Alleged White House UFC Attack Plot
Two of the eight men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting a White House UFC event pleaded not guilty as prosecutors outlined a case they say was stopped just days before the show.
By Randy Shaw
Published: July 19, 2026 4:30 pm ET
COLUMBUS, OH — Two men accused in an alleged drone-and-sniper plot targeting President Donald Trump’s UFC event on the White House lawn pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court, opening what prosecutors say is a case built around plans for a mass-casualty attack at a high-profile public celebration.
According to Associated Press reporting published by WDIV, Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered the pleas before U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr., who scheduled trial for Sept. 14 in Ohio, where the case has been consolidated.
Proper, Scaggs and six other defendants are each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Prosecutors say the alleged target was UFC Freedom 250, the June 14 cage-fighting event held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The reporting says the alleged plot began in May, when members of the group started amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications gear and other supplies. Authorities said they learned of a possible threat on June 10, four days before the event was scheduled to take place.
A federal affidavit says one defendant told investigators the plan was to send explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled. Prosecutors also allege the group hoped the attack would destabilize the government and targeted Trump, Vice President JD Vance, other federal officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk and other so-called high-value targets.
Four of the defendants were arrested the weekend of the event in Missouri, Nebraska and California, while two more were arrested about a week later in Washington and Missouri, according to the reporting. Scaggs was charged later and taken into custody in West Virginia. Attorneys for Proper and Scaggs declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing.
The material-support conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, while the murder conspiracy charge carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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