US authorities have disrupted three alleged violent plots since December 2024 involving threats against a pro-Israel lobbying organization, politicians associated with it, and government institutions, according to federal court records and law enforcement statements. The cases, investigated in Florida, Ohio, and Texas, involved firearms, explosives, and alleged plans for mass-casualty attacks.
The most recent case emerged September 30, when authorities arrested Benny Caldera Jr., 40, near San Antonio, Texas, after receiving information about a planned shooting at the state Capitol in Austin.
Federal prosecutors said Caldera expressed hostility toward the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and threatened violence against its supporters. Investigators recovered firearms, including a revolver with an allegedly altered serial number. He faces state and federal charges.
In June, federal investigators disrupted an alleged conspiracy to attack a mixed martial arts event at the White House attended by President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors said suspects planned to deploy explosive-laden drones to force an evacuation, then shoot fleeing government officials and other attendees.
One defendant, Tycen Proper, allegedly helped identify lawmakers who had received financial support from pro-Israel organizations as potential targets. Investigators said the alleged conspirators also expressed antigovernment and antisemitic beliefs. Several defendants have pleaded not guilty.
An earlier case involved Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, who allegedly traveled to a Florida office associated with pro-Israel lobbying in December 2024 while carrying firearms.
The Justice Department announced his indictment in June 2026 on attempted hate crime and weapons charges. Prosecutors allege he intended to kill Jewish employees because of their religion and ethnicity.
The three cases involve different alleged targets and motives. The White House conspiracy extended beyond lawmakers associated with AIPAC, while the Texas case concerned a threatened attack on a government building.
The Times of Israel examined the incidents together in an October 14 report, drawing attention to threats involving pro-Israel political organizations.
All three cases remain subject to criminal proceedings. The allegations have not been established by convictions, and investigators have not identified an operational connection among the defendants.
