Two men were arrested over the weekend in connection with an alleged plot aimed at the recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held on the White House lawn, prosecutors announced on Monday.
William Lee Spartacus Falkner was taken into custody in Washington state on Friday, while Jordan W. Rincker was apprehended in Missouri on Sunday, according to the Department of Justice. These arrests bring the total number of people arrested in relation to the alleged plot to seven.
The event itself proceeded without incident or attack. Federal prosecutors have claimed that those involved in the alleged conspiracy had discussed using drones equipped with explosives to attack the event, also planning to shoot at the crowd as they attempted to escape.
Both Falkner and Rincker face charges of conspiracy to commit murder. The Justice Department revealed that Falkner, trained in drone operation, allegedly used online communications to discuss utilizing drones equipped with explosives. Rincker, on the other hand, is accused of accepting $1,200 from another previously arrested individual for distribution among co-conspirators. He reportedly met this individual in Omaha, providing a 12-gauge pump shotgun, and received a ballistic plate, 3-D printer, and other items in return.
A search conducted on Sunday at Rincker’s home and a storage facility resulted in the discovery of two rifles, a 9mm pistol, a 3D-printed Glock-style handgun, a gas mask, a ballistic plate, a plate carrier, a shield, and other gear, according to the Justice Department.
Both men are facing charges based on a criminal complaint, differing from an indictment by a grand jury.
As of Monday, federal court records did not indicate whether Falkner or Rincker had entered pleas. An attempt to obtain a comment from Falkner’s federal public defender was unsuccessful, and records did not show legal representation for Rincker.
The UFC event, labeled UFC Freedom 250, took place on June 14, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Held on a specially constructed venue on the White House lawn, the event marked the occasion of America’s 250th anniversary. Attendees included President Trump, administration officials, and VIPs such as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.