Overview
- Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, was arrested and federally indicted on a one-count obstruction charge on Friday, June 26.
- Prosecutors allege Mercado served as an administrator of Signal groups and deleted the Signal app after an FBI call, a step they say made locally stored messages unavailable and forms the basis of the obstruction charge.
- Court filings describe a planned two-phase attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14 that would use explosive-laden drones to drive an evacuation and pre-positioned snipers to target fleeing attendees and protected officials.
- Authorities have charged at least seven other people from multiple states, seized weapons, tactical gear and a 3D printer in related searches, and say one high-level co-conspirator remains at large while detention and further hearings are pending.
- The case highlights law enforcement coordination across the FBI, Secret Service and DOJ, raises questions about how encrypted apps can hinder investigations, and may lead to additional arrests and prosecutions as officials continue to probe the plot.