Federal authorities have arrested two additional suspects in connection with what officials say was a conspiracy to attack President Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting event at the White House earlier this month, according to court documents unsealed Monday, as law enforcement continues to dismantle what investigators describe as a far-reaching plot involving fringe conspiracy theories.
William Lee Spartacus Falkner, of Belfair, Washington, was arrested Friday and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to documents filed in the Western District of Washington. Jordan W. Rincker, 28, was arrested Sunday and charged with the same offense in the Western District of Missouri. Neither man has entered a plea. A defense attorney appointed to represent Falkner did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and court records do not indicate whether Rincker has obtained counsel.
“Law enforcement continues to do what it does — move to disrupt and hold accountable those allegedly plotting to do harm on the White House Grounds on June 14,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a news release Monday.
The latest arrests bring to seven the number of people known to be facing federal charges in the alleged conspiracy. The Justice Department last week announced charges against five people from Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California. MSI previously reported that five were detained in the alleged plot to attack the White House UFC event, with the FBI saying the plan was thwarted.
Law enforcement officials first learned of the potential threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza on the South Lawn, according to court documents. The investigation began after the mother of a 19-year-old Ohio man, Tycen Proper, contacted police because she was concerned about her son’s recent firearms purchases and online communications, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.
Proper told investigators that he was part of a group that wanted to trigger a revolution and target members of the government, and that they planned to fly explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled, according to the affidavit. Proper is charged with firearms offenses and crimes including attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States.
“Mr. Proper appreciates the serious nature of the charges currently pending against him and will address them appropriately in court at the right time,” Proper’s attorney, Joe Patituce, said Monday. “For now, we are going to move the case forward one step at a time.”
Investigators recovered high-powered firearms from several of the suspects and reviewed encrypted text messages between roughly 20 participants who shared detailed maps and aerial photographs of the area and discussed the need for a “safe house” and escape routes after the intended attack, the documents show.
It remains unclear from the court records how close the alleged conspirators could have come to carrying out the plan had it not been thwarted. Several suspects or co-conspirators who were questioned by authorities said they did not intend to carry out violence but planned instead to observe others. One person said he would have traveled to the UFC event as a protester but had to return home after his vehicle malfunctioned. And although the participants spoke of using drones rigged with explosives, charging documents suggest they were still looking to acquire such equipment when the plot was interrupted.
Prosecutors say Rincker distributed cash to some of the conspiracy members and accepted goods including weapons, a 3D printer, a computer and other items and agreed to produce drone parts. Rincker told an investigator that he did not actually intend to help build the drones using the printer, according to an FBI affidavit, and just wanted the printer so he could make and sell crafts.
An FBI affidavit says Falkner communicated with other group members about his ability to procure and operate drones as well as what tactics and explosives to use in the plot. After news broke that the plan had been disrupted, Falkner texted another group member to say, “Work trip is canceled. My boss got picked up,” and sent a link to an article detailing the initial arrests, according to the affidavit.