Federal Jury Finds Nine North Texas Antifa Operatives Guilty In Armed July 4th Assault On Prairieland ICE Facility That Left Police Officer Shot & Exposed Coordinated Extremist Network

Monday, March 16, 2026, 8:45 A.M. ET. 9 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

FORT WORTH, TX.- A federal jury in Fort Worth has convicted nine members of a North Texas Antifa cell for their roles in a coordinated armed attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, an incident that left a responding police officer seriously wounded and exposed what federal prosecutors described as an organized militant network preparing for violent confrontation with law enforcement.

     The verdict, returned Friday, March 13, 2026, following a 12-day trial, concluded months of investigation into the July 4, 2025, assault on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Prosecutors said the attack was not a spontaneous protest but a pre-planned armed riot involving firearms, explosives, tactical gear, encrypted communications, and coordinated efforts to conceal evidence.

United States Attorney Ryan Raybould, whose office prosecuted the case, said the convictions reflected the seriousness of the attack and the threat posed by organized extremist groups willing to use violence against law enforcement.

     “These guilty verdicts and convictions rightly reflect the vicious, armed attack that these Antifa cell members planned and executed against law enforcement and detention center officers on the night of July 4 last year,” Raybould said. “Their terrorist acts, attempted murder, vandalism, and explosives launched at a detention facility were a far cry from some peaceful protest or First Amendment expression.”

Federal Case Against A North Texas Antifa Cell;

     Jurors heard testimony from more than 45 witnesses and reviewed over 210 exhibits during the trial, which began February 23, 2026.

     The nine defendants convicted by the jury were:

     • Cameron Arnold, also known as Autumn Hill
     • Zachary Evetts
     • Benjamin Song
     • Savanna Batten
     • Bradford Morris, also known as Meagan Morris
     • Maricela Rueda
     • Elizabeth Soto
     • Ines Soto
     • Daniel Rolando Sánchez-Estrada

     Seven additional defendants, Seth Sikes, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas, previously pleaded guilty in 2025 to providing material support to terrorists.

     According to prosecutors, the group functioned as a North Texas Antifa cell, part of a broader militant network that authorities say promotes confrontation with government institutions and law enforcement.

     An expert witness presented by the government testified that Antifa-aligned groups often operate through decentralized cells that coordinate riots, property destruction, and assaults on police officers while masking participants’ identities.

Leadership Role Of Benjamin Song;

     Trial evidence identified Benjamin Song as the central organizer of the group’s activities.

     Prosecutors said Song recruited participants through firearms training sessions and gun ranges while acquiring weapons that were distributed among members of the cell.

     Evidence presented in court indicated the group collectively acquired more than 50 firearms in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in the months leading up to the attack.

     Song also reportedly coordinated training sessions and recruitment through ideologically aligned networks. Prosecutors said members used encrypted messaging applications with auto-delete functions to coordinate activities while using pseudonyms in chat groups to conceal their identities.

     Messages introduced at trial revealed discussions about reconnaissance, equipment procurement, and the tactical planning of the Prairieland attack.

Insurrectionary Propaganda And Recruitment;

     Three of the defendants, Savanna Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto, were part of a group that produced and distributed political pamphlets known as “zines.”

     According to testimony, the publications contained anti-government and anti-law-enforcement messaging and were circulated among activists in North Texas.

     Federal investigators said the materials reflected the ideological motivations behind the attack and demonstrated an organized effort to promote insurrectionary narratives.

The July 4th Attack At Prairieland;

     The attack occurred late on the night of July 4, 2025, when members of the cell converged on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado.

     The facility houses illegal immigrants awaiting deportation under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security.

     Prosecutors said at least eleven participants arrived dressed in “black bloc” attire, dark clothing, and face coverings intended to obscure individual identities while allowing members to blend into a group.

     Evidence showed the attackers arrived equipped with:

     • 11 firearms
     • Body armor
     • Military-grade first-aid kits
     • Tourniquets designed for gunshot wounds
     • Fireworks used as improvised explosives

     Fingerprint evidence and digital data presented at trial connected multiple defendants to these items.

     Investigators also determined participants had turned off their phones or placed them inside Faraday bags, devices designed to block cellular tracking signals.

Violence Escalates;

     According to witness testimony, the group began firing fireworks toward the detention facility while vandalizing property, including vehicles and a guard shack.

     Correctional officers called 911, prompting an Alvarado police officer to respond.

     Body-camera footage shown to the jury captured a critical moment during the confrontation. As the officer issued commands to one of the suspects, Benjamin Song shouted “get to the rifles!” before opening fire.

     Song fired a shot that struck the responding police officer in the neck, while unarmed correctional officers ran for cover amid gunfire.

     The wounded officer survived the shooting.

Arrests And Manhunt;

     Most members of the Antifa cell were arrested shortly after the attack, many within the immediate vicinity of the facility.

     Song initially escaped and remained at large for nearly two weeks.

     Authorities said he was ultimately captured on July 15, 2025, after receiving assistance from associates who helped him evade capture.

Charges And Convictions;

     The jury convicted the defendants on multiple federal charges connected to the attack.

     Riot (Count 1)

     Eight defendants were convicted of rioting with intent to commit violence, including firing weapons, throwing explosives, vandalizing vehicles, destroying surveillance equipment, and dressing in black bloc to conceal identities.

     Providing Material Support to Terrorists (Count 2)

     The same eight defendants were convicted of providing weapons, equipment, personnel, communications tools, and transportation in support of the operation.

     Conspiracy to Use and Carry an Explosive (Count 3)

     Using and Carrying an Explosive During a Riot (Count 4)

     Eight defendants were convicted of deploying fireworks and explosives during the attack.

     Attempted Murder of Federal Officers (Count 7)

     Benjamin Song alone was convicted of attempting to kill the responding police officer.

     Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence (Counts 8–10)

     Song was also convicted for firing at law enforcement and correctional officers.

     Concealment of Evidence (Counts 11–12)

     Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada and Maricela Rueda were convicted of conspiring to hide documents and propaganda materials connected to the attack.

     Prosecutors said Sanchez-Estrada transported a box of Antifa-related documents, including planning materials and propaganda, to another location in Denton, Texas, in an attempt to prevent them from being used in a federal investigation.

Potential Sentences;

     The defendants now face substantial prison terms.

      Benjamin Song: minimum 20 years to life in federal prison.

      Arnold, Evetts, Morris, Rueda, Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto: 10 to 60 years each.

      Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada: up to 40 years in federal prison.

     The seven defendants who previously pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists face up to 15 years in prison.

     Sentencing hearings are pending before U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who presided over the trial.

Federal Officials Condemn Organized Violence;

     Federal officials said the convictions represent a significant step in confronting organized extremist violence.

     Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the case demonstrated the federal government’s determination to dismantle violent Antifa networks.

     “Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities, not under President Trump,” Bondi said. “Today’s verdict on terrorism charges will not be the last as the Trump administration systematically dismantles Antifa and finally halts their violence on America’s streets.”

     FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that attacks on law enforcement will continue to receive aggressive federal investigation.

     “Today’s verdict shows the FBI remains committed to identifying, locating, and dismantling Antifa and its funding networks across the country,” Patel said.

ICE Officials: Violence Will Be Prosecuted;

     ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said the attack was a calculated attempt to intimidate federal officers carrying out immigration enforcement.

     “The calculated, violent attack at ICE’s Prairieland facility was an abhorrent way for antifa terrorists to ‘protest’ the way this agency enforces the law,” Lyons said. “These verdicts make clear that those who choose violence over lawful expression will face the full force of the American justice system.”

A Multi-Agency Investigation;

     The investigation involved numerous federal and local agencies.

     The FBI Dallas Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) led the investigation, working with Homeland Security Investigations, ICE, and local law enforcement agencies across North Texas.

     FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock described the operation as a “whole-of-government” effort.

     “The coordinated attack on the Prairieland Detention Center required a whole-of-government approach from the initial response throughout the investigation and trial,” Rothrock said.

A Landmark Federal Case;

     Homeland Security Investigations officials said the case marks one of the first major federal prosecutions targeting a coordinated Antifa cell.

     “This case marks a historic moment as it represents the nation’s initial federal indictment targeting a coordinated group of Antifa cell members engaged in violent criminal activity,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on official statements and trial evidence released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, federal court records, and statements from federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ICE. The convictions referenced occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026, following a federal jury trial in Fort Worth. Sentencing hearings remain pending, and all defendants retain the right to appeal under federal law.