California Man Charged After Alleged Plot to Attack White House UFC Event

A 38-year-old man from Rocklin, California, has been charged as part of an alleged plot to attack a UFC event at the White House in June. Christopher Perry is now the ninth person indicted in the case. Authorities say the group planned a violent attack during the UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California announced the charges on Thursday.

Perry faces two main charges: illegally having guns as a convicted felon, and destroying records tied to a federal investigation. He is not allowed to own guns because of past felony convictions in Placer and Solano counties. In online chats, Perry reportedly called himself a 'career criminal' and admitted he was 'armed.' Investigators say these messages were key evidence against him.

The FBI says Perry used an encrypted messaging app called Signal to communicate with others in the group. The group allegedly discussed attacking not only the White House UFC event but also AI data centers, satellite communication sites, and a California technology company. FBI Special Agent McKay Campbell described these conversations in the official complaint. The messages helped agents understand the full scope of what was being planned.

Court papers describe an organized and violent attack plan. The group reportedly wanted to stage a fake protest on the north side of the White House while flying explosive drones over the UFC arena. The blasts were meant to force the crowd and important targets toward the south side. Snipers and shooters with long guns were then supposed to open fire on them.

Two days before the event, agents visited Perry's home and asked about his Signal account. Perry denied being in any group chat about an attack and refused to let agents search his phone. After being told to report to his probation officer on June 30, agents searched his home and seized evidence. Officers also took two cellphones and a laptop from his vehicle.

After meeting with the FBI on June 12, Perry allegedly tried to destroy evidence. He removed himself from the Signal chat, deleted his account, and erased the app from his phone. Search warrants later led agents to find multiple guns and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at his home. His phone also contained photos and videos of Perry holding firearms. If convicted, Perry could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.