Federal prosecutors arrested two more men Monday in connection with an alleged plot to attack a UFC event held at the White House earlier this month, bringing the total number of defendants to seven.
The two new defendants are Jordan Rincker of Missouri and William Lee Falkner of Washington state, according to court documents unsealed Monday. Both are alleged to have conspired with at least five others who were charged last week.
Prosecutors say Rincker accepted a $1,200 cash payment and a pump-action shotgun from Nebraska co-conspirator Abraham Alvarez during an in-person meeting on June 12. Rincker also wired $100 to a California defendant, Bryan Roa, to cover his drive from California to Washington, D.C. for the event.
After the group appeared to back away from the UFC attack, messages allegedly exchanged on June 13 between Rincker and Alvarez shifted focus. Alvarez messaged that the group instead "should prepare for an attack" that prosecutors said appeared to be directed at the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.
Rincker also told Alvarez he was using a 3D printer to manufacture parts for drones that would be used to detonate explosives over the UFC event. In an interview with investigators on Sunday, however, Rincker said he had never actually attempted to design a drone and did not know how.
Falkner is alleged to have communicated with co-conspirators on the encrypted app Telegram about his ability to procure and operate drones and use explosives. He allegedly discussed in detail how drones could be rigged with 155mm artillery shells and claimed he could fly up to 40 drones simultaneously. "I'm pretty sure the effective kill radius is 50 meters," Falkner said in the messages. "It will be loud, but it'll be quick."
Court documents do not make clear whether investigators have seized any drones or explosives connected to the case.
The investigation began after the mother of Ohio man Tycen Proper alerted police to his recent acquisition of firearms and troubling online conversations. FBI agents who searched Proper's room seized a journal that contained a list of approximately 46 names, including celebrities and politicians, according to ABC News.
