Key Takeaways
- An Elk Grove teen, Trevon McDaniel, was arrested for allegedly plotting to use fireworks to damage generators at Sacramento federal buildings.
- The plot was connected to a broader investigation into threats against the White House and UFC fights.
- McDaniel faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
- Law enforcement found a costume, phone, and batons during a search of his home.
Introduction
A 19-year-old Elk Grove man, Trevon McDaniel, was arrested July 1 by federal agents for allegedly planning to use fireworks to damage generators outside federal buildings in Sacramento on the Fourth of July. The case emerged from a federal investigation into a separate plot targeting the White House.
Details of the Alleged Plot
According to federal prosecutors, McDaniel, who also went by the online alias "The_wild_wolfspider," communicated with Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, the main suspect in a plot to attack UFC fights at the White House. After Alvarez's arrest in Nebraska, investigators reviewed his phone and found TikTok messages between the two from April 17 to June 7.
McDaniel allegedly posted a video on TikTok wearing a superhero mask and costume, in which he threatened to use fireworks against generators at federal buildings in Sacramento. Court documents indicate the attack was planned for the Fourth of July. On June 23, "the_wild_wolfspider" posted a video showing McDaniel allegedly wearing a Spider-Man-like mask and costume mentioning that "the 4th of July is coming," telling people to "hold onto your fireworks" and that "we might need to make some noise this year." "I'm not really plotting or planning or telling anybody to do anything," McDaniel allegedly said at the end of the video, according to the FBI agent who filed the complaint. "I'm just saying, for everyone in Sacramento, we know you love your fireworks. It'd be a shame if fireworks were going off near generators, so certain federal buildings were losing their power."
Using the Department of Homeland Security's database, federal agents connected multiple imported items connected with superhero costumes and the name Wolf Spider or Spider Wolf, according to court documents. They led officials to two addresses, one in McKinleyville on California's North Coast — where McDaniel previously lived — and another in Elk Grove, where the FBI found him during a search Wednesday. When investigators searched McDaniel's home, they recovered the costume, his phone, two mini-batons, and a baton holster. McDaniel denied being behind the "wolfspider" TikTok account, but his wife told the agents that he was the person behind the account. He had been wearing the costume and calling himself the "wolfspider" for the last six months, the complaint said.
There are additional videos of the TikToker standing outside the John E. Moss Federal building in Sacramento, protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement and "illegally detained" citizens.
Legal Consequences
McDaniel has been charged with making threats to damage or destroy buildings or property by means of fire or explosives. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He made his first court appearance Monday.
Local California Context
The federal buildings targeted are in Sacramento, the state capital, located in Sacramento County. The arrest highlights ongoing security concerns around public facilities during major holidays. The case also underscores the use of social media in plotting and detecting threats.
Conclusion
This incident serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to protect critical infrastructure. Authorities continue to monitor online threats, especially during high-risk periods like Independence Day.