Proper and Scaggs Plead Not Guilty in Thwarted UFC WH Terror Plot

Tycen Proper and Chandler Scaggs entered not guilty pleas before Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. regarding a thwarted attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event.

Tycen Proper, 19, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges involving a thwarted drone and sniper attack targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event. The MMA showcase took place on the South Lawn of the White House last month to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. in Columbus, Ohio, both men faced indictments for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory, and conspiracy to murder a federal government official. Judge Sargus has scheduled the trial for the UFC WH terror plot to begin on Sept. 14.

U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace II detailed that the July 9 indictments followed a law enforcement intervention that disrupted the group's plans four days before the scheduled cage-fighting show. Investigators allege the plot originated in May, driven by grievances regarding the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files, government corruption, and water-guzzling data centers. One defendant informed investigators of a specific tactical plan to fly drones laden with explosives into the White House event and subsequently shoot panicked spectators as they attempted to flee the South Lawn.

Indictment Details and Weaponry Seizures

Federal officials identified eight total men involved in the conspiracy, with seven initially charged from states including Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska, and California. The group allegedly amassed a diverse arsenal to carry out the assault, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, and drones. Beyond weaponry, the indictment states the suspects collected body armor, medical equipment, and communications hardware funded by pooled money. Law enforcement officials believe the suspects adhered to fringe conspiracy theories with the ultimate goal of destabilizing the United States government through the violence planned for the UFC event.

Proper, a resident of Danville, Ohio, and Scaggs, who hails from Chapmanville, West Virginia, are the first of the group to enter pleas in the Columbus court. While Scaggs was the final suspect arrested, he was transported to Ohio ahead of other out-of-state defendants. Six additional conspirators remain in the process of being transferred to Ohio from jurisdictions in Missouri, Nebraska, California, and Washington. These individuals were apprehended in waves, with four caught the weekend of the event and two others arrested approximately one week later.

Judicial Proceedings and Legal Responses

Judge Sargus has consolidated the cases of all eight defendants, noting they will likely face trial as a single group. During the proceedings, Scaggs' attorney declined to offer a statement, while a message seeking comment was directed to Proper's legal counsel. U.S. Attorney Gerace emphasized that while the full extent of the potential damage remains unclear due to the successful disruption, evidence suggested multiple individuals were actively driving toward Washington, D.C., to execute the plan.

The Justice Department continues to coordinate the movement of the remaining six suspects to face the murder and terrorism conspiracy charges in Ohio. These defendants are accused of the same three conspiracy counts as Proper and Scaggs. No specific details regarding the number of significant strikes or match results from the UFC Freedom 250 event were included in the criminal proceedings, as the focus remains on the security breach and the planned sniper positions intended to target the crowd during the MMA exhibition.