A Logan County man was arrested this week in a federal probe alleging a plan to attack an Ultimate Fighting Championship event held on the White House lawn in June.
What changed for residents
Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, was taken into custody in West Virginia this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said in a news release Thursday. Scaggs is the eighth person charged in the case, which accuses the group of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to commit murder on federal government property and to murder a federal government official.
Allegations and tactics described by authorities
According to the indictment and FBI statements, the defendants allegedly planned to use drones armed with explosives to force an evacuation of the June 14 event and then deploy snipers to fire on what federal officials described as "high value targets" in the crowd. The conspiracy is said to have begun in May and involved online communications and recruitment efforts.
- The indictment alleges defendants conspired to supply money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical and communication equipment, personnel and other services.
- Federal investigators say the group used encrypted and social platforms including Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram to plan and recruit.
- Authorities charged the defendants with both terrorism-support counts and plotting murder on federal property.
West Virginia public figures named
The criminal complaint identified several West Virginia elected officials among individuals allegedly targeted. The complaint named State Del. Tristin Leavitt; U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito; Gov. Jim Justice; and U.S. Reps. Carol Miller and Riley Moore as being on a list of government officials the group discussed targeting, according to court filings.
Who has been charged
The U.S. Attorney’s Office listed eight defendants in the indictment. They are identified in court documents as follows:
| Name | Age | Listed residence |
|---|---|---|
| Chandler D. Scaggs | 21 | Chapmanville, West Virginia |
| Tycen C. Proper | 19 | Danville, Ohio |
| Bryan Omar Roa | 24 | Calimesa, California |
| Michael Alan Thomas | 32 | Pinon Hills, California |
| Daniel K. Eskridge | 32 | Kidder, Missouri |
| William L.S. Faulkner | 21 | Belfair, Washington |
| Jordan W. Rincker | 28 | St. Joseph, Missouri |
| Abraham H. Alvarez | 31 | Omaha, Nebraska |
Federal allegations of online coordination
Federal prosecutors say the group used online chat groups and forums to develop attack plans, recruit members and encourage one another to prepare for violence. The indictment specifically cites communications on Signal, SimpleX, Discord, TikTok and Instagram.
The alleged scheme included planning for logistics and equipment: money, weapons and defensive gear, along with medical supplies and communications tools, prosecutors say. The charging documents outline a two-phase plan: an initial drone strike to disrupt and evacuate the event, followed by an armed attack on selected targets.
The case remains under federal investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are handling the prosecution and have not provided an immediate timetable for further proceedings. Local residents with information were urged to contact federal authorities through established tip lines.
The arrest brings the investigation into West Virginia's borders and underscores the federal probe's national scope: suspects are listed as residing in multiple states, and alleged targets included West Virginia public officials.
