FBI Foils Explosive Drone Plot Targeting White House UFC Event
By John Nada·Jun 16, 2026·3 min read
Federal authorities disrupted a planned attack on the White House UFC event involving explosive drones, with crypto firms linked through sponsorships.
Federal authorities have thwarted a dramatic plot aimed at the White House UFC Freedom 250 event using explosive drones. The alleged conspiracy involved grievances over government issues, Epstein files, and AI data centers, according to Decrypt. The FBI uncovered the plot to attack the event, held on the White House South Lawn, with court filings revealing it involved five men from various U.S. states.
Tycen Proper, Daniel Eskridge, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, Bryan Omar Roa, and Michael Alan Thomas were accused of planning to use explosive-laden drones to create chaos before targeting high-profile officials with shooters. A significant crowd had gathered, including political and industry heavyweights like President Donald Trump and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg. Crypto firms, including Crypto.com and Polymarket, sponsored the event, adding a layer of intrigue to the plot. Promotions featured a $1 million CRO token prize and $250,000 in stablecoins.
Not just a sporting event, but a showcase for the crypto sector, intertwining with a high-stakes security narrative. The FBI's quick response, initiated by Proper's family due to concerns over his behavior and online activity, was crucial. The investigation revealed the group, known as "Vanguard of the Old," had been meticulously planning, discussing sniper positions and escape routes, as noted by FBI Task Force Officer Christopher Betts. This incident follows another drone-related threat involving the Iran-linked hacking group, Handala, which threatened the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gold Storage Costs $72 Annually on $10,000—How It Stacks Up
Gold storage at $72 per year for $10,000 offers legal protection, surpassing ETF claims but costing more.
Yet, authorities maintain the UFC event faced no real danger due to effective law enforcement interventions. The remarkable coordination of the FBI and its partners highlights the ever-present risk of technological threats intersecting with traditional security challenges. The crypto industry's involvement, inadvertently wrapped in this security drama, underscores its growing intersection with broader societal events. According to the criminal complaints and affidavits unsealed, the suspects had been discussing their grievances since March, initially on TikTok before moving conversations to the encrypted messaging app Signal.
Their plans involved meeting in Fredericksburg, Virginia, then traveling to Washington, D.C., where they intended to deploy drones loaded with explosives over the UFC venue. Court documents revealed that the group intended to use the chaos caused by the drone explosions to target fleeing attendees, including politicians and "high value targets," with additional snipers and shooters. The operation to foil the plot was coordinated across multiple states, as noted by FBI Director Kash Patel, who praised the rapid action of the FBI and its partners in preventing the attack. "On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C.
involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region," Patel wrote on X. Among the thousands of spectators drawn to the event were President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and numerous members of Congress. The event also served as a significant showcase for the crypto industry, with participation from Crypto.com, Exodus, World Liberty Financial, and Polymarket, highlighting the growing prominence of cryptocurrency in mainstream events. Proper's family played a pivotal role in alerting authorities, expressing concerns about his recent behavior, firearms purchases, and online activity.
The investigation uncovered detailed discussions about sniper positions, drone launch sites, and escape routes. Proper’s mother also revealed that the group included individuals who claimed to be ex-military and used religious manipulation to influence her son. While this incident marks the second high-profile drone-related threat to major events in recent weeks, federal officials emphasized that the UFC Freedom 250 event itself was never at risk thanks to the thorough investigation and robust law enforcement response.