Overview
- Federal agents say the investigation began after a family tip about suspicious weapons purchases and that arrests were made in multiple states before the plot reached an operational stage.
- Charging documents accuse five men of plotting to use drones loaded with explosives to force a mass evacuation and then target attendees with coordinated sniper fire.
- Authorities identified Abraham Hermosillo Álvarez as the alleged organizer, and DHS and ICE disclosed an immigration detainer tied to his earlier visa overstay and later DACA enrollment.
- Investigators recovered firearms, ammunition and tactical gear and found encrypted group communications that moved from a TikTok group to Signal where members shared maps, aerial photos and escape routes.
- The FBI and DOJ say the probe is ongoing as agents examine possible wider links and additional associates, and officials warn the case highlights new threats from weaponized commercial drones and encrypted social networks.