Two men from Riverside County are among multiple suspects arrested in connection with a thwarted plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack targeting a high-profile UFC event held on the White House lawn, federal authorities announced. Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both residents of the Inland Empire, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to officials.
Their arrests are part of a broader, multi-state investigation in which federal investigators allege a group of mostly young suspects planned to use explosive-laden drones and sniper fire to attack crowds gathered in Washington, D.C., for the event.
The event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” took place on June 14 on the White House South Lawn as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and coincided with former President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Authorities say the plot was disrupted days before the event, with the FBI describing the coordinated intervention as having “stopped the attack cold.”
Court records against Roa and Thomas remain sealed, so it is unclear what specific roles the FBI alleges they played. However, investigators say the conspiracy involved at least a dozen suspects, many in their teens or early 20s, who communicated through encrypted messaging apps such as Signal and SimpleX.
According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, the group allegedly planned to launch small drones carrying explosives near the event, trigger panic to force an evacuation of the crowd, and position members as snipers to target people fleeing the scene. The suspects also discussed specific political figures and high-profile attendees as potential targets.
Authorities recovered maps, aerial imagery of Washington, D.C., and tactical positioning plans from a suspect’s phone, including proposed sniper locations and drone launch points.
Roa and Thomas were linked to the plot by a co-conspirator in Ohio, 19-year-old Tycen Proper, who identified them during an FBI interview, according to a criminal complaint. Proper connected with the group online earlier this year, and the network formed around an online community with anti-government and extremist views.
Members allegedly discussed using violence to “jumpstart” a broader revolt. It is not yet clear whether the California suspects had acquired weapons or equipment locally.
Both appeared in federal court on Monday, June 15, in Riverside and remain in custody as the case moves forward.
Federal investigators say the extremist group “Vanguard of the Old” is tied to the plot. The group emerged around March 2026, initially forming on TikTok before shifting to Signal.
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. The group’s grievances extended to hostility toward modern infrastructure, particularly large-scale data centers, which they framed as symbols of government overreach and corporate power.
The investigation began after Proper’s mother contacted local law enforcement in Ohio on June 10, raising concerns about her son’s behavior, including heavy weapons purchases, tactical gear, and plans to travel to Washington, D.C. Proper’s family turned over multiple firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical equipment to authorities.
He now faces multiple federal charges, including conspiracy against the United States, attempted murder of federal officials, and firearms offenses tied to violent crime.
The FBI’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, 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.
Roa and Thomas are among several suspects now facing charges in what prosecutors describe as an ongoing, multi-state conspiracy case. Court records tied to the broader case are expected to be unsealed in the coming days, potentially revealing additional details about the California connection.