WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have arrested two additional suspects in connection with an alleged plot to attack President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House earlier this month, bringing the total number of defendants charged in the case to seven, according to court documents unsealed on Monday and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The newly charged suspects, identified by prosecutors as William Lee Spartacus Falkner of Washington state and Jordan W. Rincker of Missouri, were arrested on allegations that they participated in a conspiracy to carry out a violent attack on the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House grounds. Prosecutors have charged both men with conspiracy to commit murder, according to court filings.
Federal investigators previously announced the arrests of five other men accused of involvement in the alleged scheme. Authorities said the plot was disrupted several days before the event took place. The investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.
According to court documents, investigators allege members of the group discussed using drones carrying explosives to create panic among attendees and then targeting fleeing spectators with gunfire. Authorities said the suspects communicated through encrypted online platforms and were motivated by anti-government conspiracy theories. Prosecutors have not alleged that the group had acquired all of the equipment needed to carry out the proposed attack, and the viability of the plan remains unclear.
The investigation began after the mother of one of the original suspects alerted authorities to concerns about her son’s activities, according to federal officials. The FBI subsequently identified additional individuals allegedly linked to the conspiracy and conducted arrests in multiple states. Agents seized firearms, ammunition, tactical equipment and electronic communications during the investigation, authorities said.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said after the initial arrests that federal law enforcement agencies acted quickly to disrupt the alleged plan before it could be carried out.
“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” Blanche said in a Justice Department statement.
Attorneys representing the newly charged defendants were not immediately identified in court records reviewed on Monday. Details about any pleas or court appearances remain unclear.
The Justice Department said the investigation remains ongoing, and officials have indicated that additional individuals may still be under scrutiny.
