Chicago Man Charged With Obstructing Investigation Into Alleged Plot Targeting White House UFC Event (Chicago, IL) – A 20-year-old Chicago man has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice in connection with a federal investigation into an alleged planned violent attack targeting an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held at the White House earlier this month.
Federal prosecutors announced that Alexander Iniguez Mercado was taken into custody Thursday after a federal grand jury returned an indictment accusing him of obstructing investigators examining the alleged plot. Authorities say Mercado served as both an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups where participants allegedly discussed plans related to a violent attack at the June 14, 2026, UFC event in Washington, D.C.
According to the indictment, an FBI special agent contacted Mercado by phone the day before the event to discuss online threats connected to the planned attack. Prosecutors allege that Mercado denied any plans to travel to Washington to assist with the attack and declined to meet with investigators. After the conversation, authorities say Mercado uninstalled the Signal messaging application from his phone, causing data related to the conversations to become unavailable.
Mercado has been charged with one count of obstruction of justice, a federal offense that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. He appeared for his initial hearing Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes in federal court in Chicago.
Federal officials said Mercado is one of eight individuals from multiple states charged as part of the broader investigation into the alleged plot.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros emphasized the seriousness of interfering with investigations involving threats to public safety.
“Obstructing justice in a law enforcement investigation into a planned violent domestic attack is a profoundly serious offense,” Boutros said in a statement. He added that the investigation involved threats to the safety of President Donald J. Trump, other government officials, event attendees and UFC athletes, and pledged that federal prosecutors would pursue those who attempt to interfere with such investigations.
FBI Chicago Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta credited cooperation among law enforcement agencies for preventing the alleged attack before anyone was harmed.
“The FBI’s most important responsibility of protecting the American people means that our personnel work 24/7/365 to evaluate the ever-changing threat landscape and disrupt acts of violence before they occur,” DePodesta said. He encouraged the public to report suspicious or threatening activity through local law enforcement, the FBI tip line, or tips.fbi.gov.
Acting Special Agent-in-Charge James Morley of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office said protecting the president remains the agency’s highest priority and praised the collaboration between the Secret Service, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office during the investigation.
The investigation was led by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Federal officials emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation. Mercado is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chicago Man Charged With Obstructing Investigation Into Alleged Plot Targeting White House UFC Event
