FBI Charges Two More Suspects in Alleged UFC Freedom 250 Attack Plot, Bringing Total to Seven
Federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against two additional defendants — Jordan W. Rincker of Missouri and William Lee Spartacus Falkner of Washington state — in the alleged conspiracy to carry out a mass-casualty…
Federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against two additional defendants — Jordan W. Rincker of Missouri and William Lee Spartacus Falkner of Washington state — in the alleged conspiracy to carry out a mass-casualty attack at Washington, D.C.'s UFC Freedom 250 event on June 14. The filings bring the total number of publicly identified suspects to seven, with investigators alleging the network extended well beyond those initially arrested.
Roles Alleged Against Rincker and Falkner
Court records describe Rincker as playing a logistical role in the conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he accepted a $1,200 cash payment from alleged ringleader Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, transferred a pump-action shotgun to Alvarez during an in-person meeting, and sent co-defendant Bryan Omar Roa $100 to help fund Roa's drive from California to Washington. Roa allegedly began that drive on June 11, three days before the event.
Falkner's alleged role centered on drone operations. According to the Washington state complaint, he joined a Telegram channel called "D Ops" on June 7 and communicated with co-conspirators about drone procurement, explosive payloads, anti-jamming measures, and fiber optic controls. Prosecutors allege he argued that "the more drones the better" and claimed he could obtain drones capable of carrying heavy explosive payloads through a network of contacts.
The Alleged Attack Plan and Network
Investigators allege the group planned to deploy explosive-laden drones over the UFC event to trigger a mass evacuation, then direct fleeing crowds toward prepositioned shooters. FBI officials have described a planned "second wave" targeting the White House gate. Court records allege members of the conspiracy agreed to commit murder on White House grounds and the surrounding area.
The network allegedly formed around March through a TikTok community called "Vanguard of the Old," where members shared workout and tactical content before migrating to encrypted Signal and SimpleX chats. A seizure of the phone belonging to 19-year-old Ohio defendant Tycen Proper — whose mother called in the initial FBI tip — revealed a primary Signal chat with approximately 19 alleged participants and smaller operational groups organized by role and location.
Other previously charged defendants include Daniel Eskridge, who allegedly obtained multiple firearms, a helmet, and a ballistic vest, and shared a photograph of the equipment with co-conspirators in May.
Ongoing Investigation and Interagency Friction
FBI Deputy Director Chris Raia told Fox News Digital that the initial five arrests targeted individuals investigators viewed as the most dangerous members of the alleged conspiracy. "We made a bunch of probable cause arrests before the event, we assured the event was safe," Raia said, adding that investigators had continued monitoring others to confirm no one had traveled to Washington, D.C.
The newly unsealed affidavit also indicates investigators were examining whether the group discussed a potential attack targeting a FIFA World Cup match scheduled for July 3 in Kansas City, Missouri, with prosecutors alleging that Alvarez encouraged co-conspirators to prepare to travel to Missouri around the July 4 holiday.
Separately, two senior U.S. officials told Fox News that Secret Service leadership had sought to delay public disclosure of the investigation, concerned that publicizing the probe could alert additional subjects and complicate further arrests. The conspiracy is alleged to have operated from approximately March through June 21.
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Filed via Newsmv