The FBI arrested two more men over their alleged involvement in a planned drone attack on the White House’s UFC event.
Five people were arrested and charged as co-conspirators as part of the plot, which aimed to use drones to assassinate White House officials and cause a mass casualty event at the spectacle just ahead of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary. William Lee Spartacus Falkner was arrested in Washington on Friday, and Jordan Rincker, 28, was arrested on Sunday in Missouri. Both are being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, a charge that carries the possibility of life in prison.
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“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 statement. “Each and every day, the FBI and their federal, state and local law enforcement partners, along with U.S. Attorneys offices across the country, safeguard American communities and our nation’s security.”
“These arrests are the latest result of the FBI, teaming up with our great partners, to identify and apprehend those who allegedly wanted to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event — a threat this FBI and our partners prevented,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Falkner was found to be integral to the plan, having experience with the piloting and manufacturing of drones, according to the Department of Justice, and he allegedly discussed loading explosives onto the drones and “how to configure and fly them for maximum destructive impact.”
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Rincker allegedly provided financial support for the operation and directly met with the ringleader, Abraham Alvarez, 31, who gave him a ballistic plate, face shield, 3D printer, 3D printing filament, night vision goggles, binoculars, a “wire checker,” and a minicomputer, along with a 3D printer to make drones.
A search warrant of Rincker’s home and storage unit found several rifles and pistols, ammunition, 3D-printed military equipment, a gas mask, night vision goggles, and other items, the DOJ said.
