NEW: Alexander Iniguez Mercado of Chicago 8th suspect arrested for UFC terror plot

According to the Justice Department, "Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, of Chicago, was allegedly an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups that included members who appeared to communicate with others regarding the planning of a violent attack targeting the UFC event at the White House on June 14."

Mercado was taken into custody on Thursday and is facing up to 20 years in prison. According to the indictment against Mercado, the day before the UFC event an FBI agent contacted and spoke to him, and told Mercado that he was calling regarding the planned attack on the UFC event and if he had plans to travel to DC.

Mercado allegedly denied his plans to do so and said that he did not want to meet with the agent. After speaking to the agent, he uninstalled Signal on his phone which caused data related to his prior communications about the alleged attack plot to be unavailable.

He has been charged with obstruction of justice and was set to appear in federal court in Chicago on Friday.

“Obstructing justice in a law enforcement investigation into a planned violent domestic attack is a profoundly serious offense,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “The investigation in this case involved serious threats to public safety, including the safety of President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, other members of government, as well as the many attendees and athletes who attended the event at the White House. Any obstructive conduct to interfere with this investigation undermines the integrity of the justice system as well as the rule of law. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue all appropriate charges against those who act to obstruct law enforcement investigations because safeguarding the public depends on the full, unhindered pursuit of the evidence.”

There are eight total suspects that have been arrested by authorities in connection to the alleged plot, including Mercado as well as Tycen Proper, Bryan Roa, Michael Thomas, Daniel Eskridge, Abraham Alvarez, William Lee Spartacus Falkner, and Jordan W. Rincker.

Alvarez, 31, was the alleged leader of the plot, and is also an illegal immigrant. He was charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the US and conspiracy to commit murder.

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