The co-conspirators are said to have planned to disrupt the June 14th UFC event by flying explosive-laden drones and shooting fleeing attendees.
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A Chicago man has been charged with obstructing a federal investigation into what authorities say was a thwarted plot to attack the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House.
Alexander Yniguez Mercado, 20, was indicted in federal court in Illinois on June 25 for allegedly acting as an administrator for a group on the encrypted messaging app Signal that was allegedly used to plan the violent attack on the June 14 event.
Mercado is one of at least eight suspects charged in connection with the plot to attack UFC Freedom 250, an event hosted by President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House. There have also been arrests in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California.
“Obstruction of justice in a law enforcement investigation into a planned violent domestic attack is a very serious crime,” said Andrew Boutras, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Charging documents in other cases say members of the conspiracy planned to fly small drones loaded with explosives near UFC events to force evacuations. The conspirators then allegedly planned to shoot the fleeing protesters toward a waiting sniper.
During the investigation, the FBI said Mercado was the administrator of a signal messaging group that included “members who appeared to be communicating with other members regarding the planned attack on the UFC event,” the indictment states.
FBI agents called Mercado the day before the UFC event and informed him of an investigation into threats against the event. The FBI agent asked Mercado if he was planning a trip to Washington, D.C., and he denied the charges, according to the indictment.
The brief conversation ended. The indictment says Mercado deleted the Signal app from his phone after the call, making it impossible for investigators to retrieve the encrypted messages.
Mr. Mercado’s first appearance before Illinois U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes was scheduled for June 26 at 3:00 p.m. CT. If convicted, Mercado could face up to 20 years in prison.
