A 21-year-old Belfair, Washington, resident, William Lee Spartacus Falkner, was arrested Friday, June 19, 2026, in connection with a plot to attack a UFC event at the White House. Falkner faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and was ordered detained in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
The alleged plot involved using explosive-laden drones to create an initial attack, forcing attendees to an exit where co-conspirators would be waiting with sniper rifles and other weapons. Communications reviewed by investigators indicated Falkner's experience with drones, including manufacturing and piloting them, and his discussions on configuring them for maximum destructive impact.
Law enforcement learned of the conspiracy when the parents of a co-conspirator in Ohio alerted police to their son's weapons purchases and concerning online activities. This led to a "geographically wide-ranging conspiracy," as described by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd, involving round-the-clock coordination to identify and arrest those responsible.
One arrested co-conspirator reportedly said the group's goal was to "cause enough chaos to bring about the overthrow of the U.S. government." W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, commended the FBI, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Secret Service for their vital contributions. Conspiracy to commit murder carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.