Two additional individuals from Missouri and Washington state have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to attack President Donald Trump's UFC cage-fighting event at the White House earlier this month, according to court documents filed Monday.
Details of the Arrests
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 conspiracy to commit murder in the Western District of Missouri. A defense attorney for Falkner did not respond to a request for comment, and court records do not indicate if Rincker has retained counsel. Neither has entered a plea.
Law Enforcement Response
“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. The Justice Department had previously announced charges against five individuals from Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California, bringing the total number of federal defendants to seven.
Investigation and Allegations
Authorities learned of the potential threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts event on the White House's South Lawn. Officials allege the group harbored fringe conspiracy theories and aimed to destabilize the government. The investigation began after the mother of 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio contacted police due to concerns about his firearms purchases and online communications, according to an FBI affidavit.
Proper told investigators he was part of a group seeking to trigger a revolution and target government members, planning to fly explosive-laden drones into the event and shoot fleeing crowd members, the affidavit states. He is charged with firearms offenses and attempted murder of a U.S. officer or employee. “Mr. Proper appreciates the serious nature of the charges currently pending against him and will address them appropriately in court at the right time,” his attorney Joe Patituce said Monday.
Evidence Recovered
Investigators recovered high-powered firearms from several suspects and reviewed encrypted messages among roughly 20 participants, who shared detailed maps, aerial photos, and discussed a safe house and escape routes, documents show. However, it remains unclear how close the group was to executing the plan. Some suspects said they did not intend to carry out violence themselves, and one claimed to have traveled as a protester but returned home after a vehicle malfunction. The group was still seeking drone equipment when the plot was disrupted, according to charging documents.
Prosecutors allege Rincker distributed cash to conspiracy members and accepted weapons, a 3D printer, a computer, and other items, agreeing to produce drone parts. Rincker told an investigator he did not actually intend to help build drones and wanted the printer for crafts, per an FBI affidavit. Falkner communicated about procuring and operating drones and tactics and explosives to use. After news of the disruption broke, Falkner texted another member: “Work trip is canceled. My boss got picked up,” and shared a link to an article about the initial arrests, the affidavit says.
