COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two of eight men facing federal murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for their alleged involvement in a foiled attack on a UFC cage-fighting event held at the White House last month entered not guilty pleas in court Thursday.
Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, made their pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. in Columbus. Both men, along with the six other defendants, face charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal property and against a federal official.
Judge Sargus scheduled their trial to begin September 14.
U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace II spoke with reporters last week following the group’s July 9 indictments, saying: “What would have happened or could have happened, that’s never going to be clear, because, thank God, there was an intervention here and this thing was disrupted. But, in my view, when I look at what’s been alleged there, it seems pretty likely that someone or multiple people were driving to Washington, D.C., to do something.”
An attempt to reach Proper’s attorney for comment went unanswered. An attorney for Scaggs declined to make any statement.
Court documents indicate the alleged conspiracy began taking shape in May. Members of the group reportedly stockpiled money, weapons, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, and communications gear. Their stated grievances included concerns about government corruption, water use by data centers, and the current administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
The intended target was UFC Freedom 250, a cage-fighting event held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. Law enforcement said they became aware of the potential threat four days before the event was set to take place.
According to a federal affidavit, one of the defendants told investigators the group intended to send explosive-equipped drones into the crowd and then open fire on people as they fled the scene.
The Justice Department announced charges against seven individuals from multiple states, including Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska, and California. Authorities said the suspects subscribed to fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would bring down the government.
Four of the alleged co-conspirators were charged in Missouri, Nebraska, and California during the weekend of the event, with two more charged roughly a week later in Washington and Missouri. Those individuals are still being transferred to Ohio, where all cases have been consolidated under Judge Sargus’ court. The defendants are expected to be tried together.
Scaggs was the last person arrested in the case but was the first of the out-of-state defendants brought to Ohio.
