Two Inland Empire men are among multiple suspects arrested in a thwarted plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack targeting a high-profile UFC event on the White House lawn, federal authorities said.
Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both Riverside County residents, were taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors in court documents say they were part of a broader group that plotted to kill government officials and others attending the June 14 “UFC Freedom 250” event, a large public gathering that included the president and other high-ranking officials.
Federal officials say the plot was disrupted days before the event, with the FBI describing the coordinated intervention as having “stopped [the attack] cold.”
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Multi-state plot tied to encrypted chats and online radicalization in UFC White House attack plot case
New details from a federal criminal complaint outline a coordinated and multi-phase attack plan driven by anti-government ideology.
According to prosecutors, co-conspirators — including Roa and Thomas — discussed using drones to drop explosives on the north side of the White House grounds to create panic. Investigators say the goal was to funnel attendees toward preselected locations where snipers would be positioned to target “high-value” victims.
Those named included:
Investigators say those individuals appeared to be selected based on their support for Israel and ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to statements in the complaint.
The filing also indicates the group broadly discussed targeting:
California arrests: What we know about the Riverside County UFC White House attack plot case suspects
According to the complaint, investigators identified Roa and Thomas after interviewing the Ohio suspect, Tycen Proper, on June 11.
Proper — who was charged separately on June 12 — identified the two men as participants in the plot through their social media accounts.
Investigators say Proper’s phone contained encrypted messages detailing the attack plan and communications among co-conspirators
On June 13, federal agents executed search warrants at locations tied to both California men, according to the complaint.
Investigators reported finding:
Agents also seized Roa’s phone, which allegedly contained communications with other suspects about the attack plan.
According to the complaint, Thomas told investigators he helped plan the attack and encouraged others to participate. Roa told agents he had attempted to travel to Washington, D.C., but denied involvement in the conspiracy, according to the filing.
According to the complaint, however, disclosed messages show that Roa and Thomas were not just talking online — they were meeting in person and training together in the weeks leading up to the plot.
According to the complaint, the two men:
In one exchange, Thomas described the training as preparation for “guerrilla-style warfare,” saying the group would need to operate “like ghosts” and carry out raids and infiltration-style missions.
Investigators say these conversations show the pair were actively preparing to use firearms.
Roa and Thomas appeared in federal court on Monday, June 15, in Riverside, according to a court calendar, and remain in custody as the case proceeds.
What is ‘Vanguard of the Old’? Extremist group allegations, including anti–data center rhetoric, explained
Federal investigators say “Vanguard of the Old” is an online extremist group tied to a disrupted domestic terror plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
Federal authorities unsealed criminal charges against multiple suspects after intervening. that emerged around March 2026, initially forming on TikTok before shifting to the encrypted messaging app Signal, according to an FBI affidavit. Authorities allege the group promoted anti-government, ultra-religious and antisemitic views, with members expressing a belief that the United States needed to be “torn down” and rebuilt.
According to court documents, investigators say the group’s grievances extended beyond traditional anti-government rhetoric to include hostility toward modern infrastructure — particularly large-scale data centers. The FBI affidavit describes members framing data centers as symbols of government overreach and corporate power, while also criticizing their massive energy consumption and environmental footprint.
Authorities say this anti–data center stance was woven into broader conspiracy-driven narratives, including claims that digital infrastructure enables surveillance, concentrates control in the hands of elites, and drains resources from the public.
Investigators noted that members discussed these concerns alongside other grievances, including alleged government corruption and frustration over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, according to federal filings.
Tip from teen’s mother helped stop UFC White House attack case
Authorities say the investigation began after Proper’s mother contacted local law enforcement in Ohio on June 10, raising concerns about her son’s behavior.
According to the criminal complaint, red flags included:
Proper’s family turned over multiple firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment to authorities.
He now faces multiple federal charges, including:
Inside the alleged attack UFC White House attack plot plan
Court filings outline a detailed and coordinated strategy:
Federal response: Specialized unit helped dismantle network
The FBI’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit (ATIU) — a high-tech team focused on emerging threats — assisted in the investigation alongside the Secret Service and local agencies.
Officials said the multi-agency effort moved quickly once the tip was received, leading to arrests across multiple states, including California.
“This was a fast-moving, coordinated operation that prevented what could have been a devastating attack,” federal officials said.
(This story was updated to include new information.)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: UFC White House plot foiled; 2 California men charged
Reporting by Josh Meyer and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Josh Meyer and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
