Chicago Man Charged in Alleged Plot to Attack UFC Event at White House

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Alexander Iniguez Mercado, a Chicago resident, has been charged with obstructing a federal investigation into a suspected plot involving explosives and sniper attacks at a UFC event held at the White House. His alleged deletion of encrypted communications on Signal hindered the investigation, which continues as authorities pursue other suspects linked to the planned attack.

A Chicago resident has been charged in connection with efforts to impede a federal investigation into an alleged plot targeting a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held at the White House. Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, was indicted on June 25 in federal court in Illinois on accusations of obstructing justice. Authorities allege that Mercado acted as an administrator for a group on the encrypted messaging platform Signal, which was reportedly used to coordinate plans for violence surrounding the UFC Freedom 250 event held on June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Mercado is among at least eight individuals charged in relation to the suspected conspiracy. Arrests linked to the case have occurred across several states, including Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. According to law enforcement officials, the planned attack involved flying small drones equipped with explosives near the event to trigger an evacuation, followed by sniper attacks targeting attendees as they fled.

The FBI’s indictment states that Mercado managed a Signal group that included participants who appeared to communicate about the planned assault. The day before the UFC event, an FBI agent called Mercado to confront him about the ongoing investigation. During this conversation, the agent inquired if Mercado intended to travel to Washington, D.C., to which he denied. The call was then disconnected. Shortly thereafter, Mercado reportedly deleted the Signal application from his phone, hindering federal agents' efforts to access potentially critical encrypted communications.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutrous of the Northern District of Illinois emphasized the severity of obstructing a federal investigation tied to a planned violent attack. Mercado’s initial court appearance was scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes in Illinois on June 26. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The investigation into the broader conspiracy remains ongoing as authorities continue to assess the threat and apprehend additional suspects.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.