The Ultimate Fighting Championship ring on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
A Logan County man is the latest to be arrested over an alleged terrorist attack planned for last month’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn.
Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, was taken into custody in West Virginia this week. according to a press release Thursday from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Southern Ohio.
He is among eight men charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and the murder of a government official, the press release said.
The seven other men charged in the conspiracy are: Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, Calif.; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; William L.S. Faulkner, 21, of Belfair, Wash.; Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Abraham H. Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.
According to the FBI, the men planned to exploit drones armed with explosives to force an evacuation of the June 14 event and then planned to exploit snipers to shoot at “high-value targets.” including some elected officials from West Virginiawithin the crowd.
State Delegate Tristin Leavitt, R-Kanawha, as well as U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore — all Republicans who represent West Virginia — were among a list of government officials targeted “due to their support for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee,” the criminal complaint against Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez says.
According to the indictment, the defendants began conspiring in May to provide terrorists with material support and resources in the form of money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications equipment, personnel and other services.
The eight men are said to have participated in online chat groups and forums on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram, the indictment says. The men allegedly developed attack plans, recruited members and encouraged each other to prepare for attacks, including the attack on UFC Freedom 250.
