A 20-year-old Chicago man, Alexander Iniguez Mercado, has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice in connection with a foiled plot to attack a UFC event at the White House on June 14, federal prosecutors announced. Mercado allegedly served as an administrator of a Signal group chat used to coordinate the attack and deleted evidence after being contacted by the FBI.
Mercado is one of eight suspects arrested across multiple states, including Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California, as part of a broader investigation. Authorities allege the group planned a mass-casualty attack using drones and firearms to target attendees, including President Donald Trump and other officials. The FBI disrupted the plot just days before the event.
According to court documents, Mercado denied involvement during an FBI phone call and immediately uninstalled the Signal app, erasing critical communications. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Chicago.
The Department of Justice emphasized that the arrests prevented a potential large-scale attack, with officials praising the collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement. The UFC event, held on the White House South Lawn, was part of America’s 250th-anniversary celebrations.