Chicago Man Charged With Obstruction in White House UFC Attack Investigation

Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, of Chicago, was arrested June 26 after a federal indictment charged him with obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation of a planned violent attack targeting the UFC event at the White House on June 14. According to the indictment, Mercado was allegedly an administrator and member of Signal messaging […]

Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, of Chicago, was arrested June 26 after a federal indictment charged him with obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation of a planned violent attack targeting the UFC event at the White House on June 14.
According to the indictment, Mercado was allegedly an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups that included people who appeared to communicate about planning the attack. The DOJ said seven other individuals from multiple states have also been charged in connection with the investigation.
Prosecutors said an FBI special agent called Mercado the day before the UFC event to discuss online threats and asked whether he planned to travel to Washington, D.C., to help with the attack; Mercado allegedly denied those plans and then uninstalled Signal from his phone, causing message data to become unavailable. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.