Mother’s tip helped unravel White House UFC drone plot: Affidavit

Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Danville Police Department responded to the family’s residence that evening. Proper’s father told authorities his son had recently connected with a group of individuals online and was planning what he described as “recons” with them. He also said Proper intended to travel during the weekend of June 13 to meet the group.

According to the affidavit, Proper had recently acquired camping supplies, food, ballistic plates, a shotgun, a rifle, large quantities of ammunition, extra magazines, and plate carriers. Investigators later recovered firearms and ammunition as part of the federal probe.

Additional details from the court filings indicate Proper allegedly spent roughly $3,000 in graduation money on weapons, ammunition, magazines, and tactical equipment. Authorities also allege he quit his job in preparation for meeting online associates to conduct what were described as “missions” and “recons.”

What began as a local call to police soon expanded into a multi-state terrorism investigation involving at least 12 FBI field offices.

Federal officials say the group planned to carry out a coordinated attack during the historic White House event, which was attended by Trump, Cabinet officials, business leaders, and thousands of spectators.

According to investigators, the alleged plan called for explosive-laden drones to strike buildings near the event, triggering panic and forcing crowds to flee. Authorities allege sniper teams would then target people moving through predetermined escape routes while a separate group attempted to exploit the confusion by breaching White House security perimeters.

Court filings further indicate investigators uncovered Signal group chats containing discussions about the operation with additional individuals, including maps of the event grounds, proposed sniper positions, and drone launch points.

One affidavit identifies Thomas as an alleged organizer of the conspiracy. According to investigators, Thomas told authorities he believed the U.S. government was controlled by elites who “sacrifice and eat children,” had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and were being protected by Trump.

Proper was likewise motivated by his belief that the government erred in its handling of disclosures related to the Epstein files. His mother described him and his cohort as having interactions with an unnamed online group that expressed “ultra-religious and anti-government sentiments” that “may share some Christian-based ideology,” according to his affidavit.

Federal authorities also allege Proper participated in planning discussions and was viewed as a leader within the group. Investigators said they uncovered online communications discussing reconnaissance missions, weapons, drones, and plans for violence in Washington.

The FBI announced Tuesday that five people had been arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy. All five have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News that all five suspects are American citizens and that investigators do not currently believe a foreign nexus was involved.

FBI Director Kash Patel praised agents and prosecutors for disrupting the alleged attack before it could be carried out.

“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel wrote Tuesday morning on X.

FBI THWARTS EXPLOSIVE DRONE ATTACK AGAINST UFC FREEDOM 250 FIGHT

Security for the event was led by the Secret Service with support from the U.S. Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. The extensive operation included multiple checkpoints, expanded security perimeters, and road closures throughout downtown Washington.

The Washington Examiner contacted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.