Eight of the ten people convicted in the Texas attack on a federal immigration detention center learned their sentences on Tuesday, and the punishments were steep. Benjamin Song, identified by prosecutors as the group’s leader, received 100 years in prison.
The case stems from the July 4, 2025, attack on the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas. Prosecutors said the group came prepared, fired off fireworks, vandalized property, and shot at police officers who responded. One officer was struck in the neck with a bullet and survived.
According to the sentencing breakdown reported Tuesday, Maricela Rueda received 70 years. Autumn Hill received 50 years, along with Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Meagan Morris, and Elizabeth Soto. Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years.
The defendants were convicted earlier this year on a wide range of charges, including riot-related offenses, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, using and carrying an explosive, attempted murder of an officer, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and charges tied to concealing documents. In March, a jury found nine Antifa members guilty after a 12-day trial in federal court.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the verdict and said, "Today’s verdict shows the FBI remains committed to identifying, locating, and dismantling Antifa and its funding networks across the country," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Acts of violence against our law enforcement partners will not be tolerated, and we continue our work to protect communities across the country from domestic terrorism."
Attorney General Pamela Bondi also weighed in, saying, "Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities — not under President Trump," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "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."
The Justice Department said, "Nine North Texas Antifa Cell operatives were convicted today by a federal jury in Fort Worth, Texas for their roles in rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and attempted murder of an Alvarado police officer and unarmed correctional officers at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center on July 4, 2025, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould," the DOJ said.
It also said, "In a 12-day trial that began on February 23, 2026, jurors heard testimony from more than 45 witnesses and considered over 210 exhibits supporting the charges against nine indicted defendants: Cameron Arnold, a/k/a Autunm Hill, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, a/k/a Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada," the Justice Department said.
The DOJ added, "Seven others, Seth Sikes, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas, pled guilty last year to one count of providing material support to terrorists," the DOJ said.
Federal officials called it the first-ever federal Antifa terrorism trial in Texas. For prosecutors, the message was simple: this was not protest. It was a coordinated attack that ended in long prison terms.