Chicago man – Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, was indicted June 25 in federal court in Illinois on charges tied to an alleged plan to attack the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14. Prosecutors say he helped administer an encrypted messaging gr
On June 14, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event unfolded on the South Lawn of the White House. Prosecutors say it was the target of a violent plan that authorities stopped before it could be carried out — and that one Chicago man played a role in how investigators were able to piece it together.
Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, was indicted June 25 in federal court in Illinois on allegations that he obstructed a federal investigation into what authorities describe as a thwarted attack on UFC Freedom 250. The event was hosted by President Donald Trump.
Mercado is one of at least eight suspects charged in connection with the alleged plan to attack UFC Freedom 250. Arrests tied to the investigation have been made in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California.
In court filings, federal prosecutors said Mercado served as an administrator of a group on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, which was allegedly used to plan the June 14 attack. If convicted, Mercado faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
U.S. attorney Andrew Boutrous of the Northern District of Illinois said the conduct at issue was “obstructing justice in a law enforcement investigation into a planned violent domestic attack,” calling it “a profoundly serious offense.”
The charging documents describe a sequence authorities say the conspirators planned: they allegedly intended to fly small drones laden with explosives near the UFC event. forcing an evacuation. Prosecutors say the attackers were then allegedly planning to shoot at attendees as they fled. toward snipers who were supposedly waiting.
The FBI alleged that Mercado was the administrator of a Signal messaging group that included “members who appeared to communicate with others regarding the planned UFC Event attack,” according to the indictment.
A key part of the obstructing-justice claim centers on what happened after the FBI reached out. Prosecutors say an FBI agent called Mercado the day before the UFC event and told him about the investigation into threats against the event. The indictment states the agent asked whether Mercado planned to travel to Washington. DC. and that Mercado denied any plans to go.
That brief call, prosecutors say, was followed by Mercado allegedly removing the Signal app from his phone. The indictment says that action prevented agents from retrieving the encrypted messages.
Mercado’s first court appearance was scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on June 26 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes in Illinois.
Chicago man charged Alexander Iniguez Mercado White House UFC Freedom 250 drone explosives plot Signal app FBI investigation obstructing justice Northern District of Illinois Gabriel Fuentes