WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – A Logan County man has become the eighth person charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy to carry out an attack during the Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal authorities said 21-year-old Chandler D. Scaggs of Chapmanville was arrested this week by the FBI. He is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and to murder a federal government official.
According to the Justice Department, investigators allege Scaggs was assigned the role of a sniper in the planned attack. Prosecutors say he was expected to travel to the event with 19-year-old Tycen C. Proper of Danville, Ohio, who was arrested in June in connection with the same investigation.
After Proper’s arrest, authorities allege Scaggs lost contact with him but later told others he still intended to participate if another person could transport him to the White House event.
The investigation also revealed that several members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation were among the alleged targets. According to the Justice Department, messages exchanged by Proper with other alleged conspirators identified U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, along with U.S. Reps. Carol Miller and Riley Moore, all Republicans from West Virginia, as intended targets.
Federal prosecutors allege the group began planning the attack in May and conspired to obtain and provide material support to terrorists, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, drones, body armor, medical supplies, communications equipment, personnel and financial resources.
Investigators said the alleged conspirators used encrypted and social media platforms, including Signal, Discord, SimpleX, TikTok and Instagram, to communicate and recruit additional participants.
The case remains under investigation. Charges contained in a criminal complaint are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
