A 19-year-old Central Ohio man is among multiple suspects arrested and accused of plotting to use explosive drones for attacks at Sunday’s UFC cage-fighting show at the White House for President Donald Trump’s birthday, according to the FBI and court records unsealed Tuesday.
Agents from the FBI’s Cincinnati Division detained Tycen Proper of Knox County last week. According to federal investigators, the investigation is still ongoing, with further arrests made in California, Missouri, and Nebraska.
Proper is being held without bond at the Franklin County Jail on four federal charges that may land him in prison for decades, if not his entire life:
- Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
- Attempted murder of a federal official, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. This charge has a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
- Receipt or transfer of a firearm that will be used to commit a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Agents discovered the threat on Wednesday, June 10, and proceeded fast to make the first arrest in Ohio, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Tuesday morning.
A multi-state effort involving at least a dozen FBI field offices “stopped the attacks cold,” he wrote in a post on X.
The Secret Service also worked around the clock to identify individuals and “hold them accountable,” according to a separate statement on the agency’s X account from Director Sean Curran.
Investigators discovered encrypted “Signal” discussions with at least 23 persons reportedly discussing utilizing explosive-laden drones to attack structures near the UFC Freedom 250 event, according to federal court filings.
The objective was to employ exploding drones to cause a mass evacuation, then drive people toward a sniper squad before launching a second wave to attempt to rush a White House gate.
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