Eight defendants were found guilty Friday of providing material support to terrorists for their roles in the antifa attack on the Prairieland ICE detention center in 2025, marking one of the most sweeping terrorism-related convictions in the case to date.
The verdicts came as nine defendants stood accused in the July 4, 2025, plot targeting the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, following weeks of testimony from investigators, law enforcement, and cooperating witnesses.
“Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities – not under President Trump,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a news release. “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.”
Prosecutors said that the group launched a premeditated terror attack on the Prairieland detention center inspired by antifa ideology, by setting off fireworks, vandalizing property, and shooting at police officers who responded. One officer was struck in the neck with a bullet and survived.
Last September, the Trump administration designated antifa as a domestic terror group. Critics of the move argued that antifa, short for anti-fascist, is an ideology, not an actual group with an organized leadership structure and membership. Subscribing to a specific ideology, they say, is not a crime.
The first charges in the Prairieland case were filed weeks after the terror designation.
The nine defendants faced a total of 65 charges that included attempted murder, aiding terrorists, and weapons charges. Those supporting the defendants have called those charges outrageous, saying the defendants were there protesting ICE and that the government has gone overboard to send a message.
Statement from Alvarado police chief
Alvarado Police Chief Teddy May welcomed the guilty verdicts, noting that Lt. Gross – the officer shot in the neck during the attack – has fully recovered. May said the outcome reflects the consequences of the choices made that night.
“It’s unfortunate for Mr. (Benjamin) Song,” he said. “He made some poor decisions, and it seems like he’s now going to have to be paying his debt to society.”
He also agreed with prosecutors that the defendants could not have reasonably believed they were attending a peaceful protest.
“I don’t believe any reasonable person could believe the suspects didn’t know what they were doing,” May said.
He said the convictions bring closure for the injured officer, his family, and the department. May said officers were doing their jobs when they came under fire and thanked investigators and prosecutors for their work. He said the verdict reinforces their faith in the justice system and that the department remains focused on supporting officers and serving the community.
Verdicts of nine defendants
Autumn Hill (formerly known as Cameron Arnold), Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Meagan Morris (formerly known as Bradford Morris), Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada were charged with multiple offenses for their roles related to the Prairieland attack.
Here are the verdicts in the Prairieland case:
Count 1 – Riot
- Autumn Hill (formerly Cameron Arnold) – guilty
- Zachary Evetts – guilty
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Savanna Batten – guilty
- Meagan Morris (formerly Bradford Morris) – guilty
- Maricela Rueda – guilty
- Elizabeth Soto – guilty
- Ines Soto – guilty
Count 2 – Providing material support to terrorists
- Autumn Hill – guilty
- Zachary Evetts – guilty
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Savanna Batten – guilty
- Meagan Morris – guilty
- Maricela Rueda – guilty
- Elizabeth Soto – guilty
- Ines Soto – guilty
Court 3 & Count 4 – Carry an explosive; using and carrying an explosive during a riot
- Autumn Hill – guilty
- Zachary Evetts – guilty
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Savanna Batten – guilty
- Meagan Morris – guilty
- Maricela Rueda – guilty
- Elizabeth Soto – guilty
- Ines Soto – guilty
Count 5 – Attempted murder of an officer
- Benjamin Song – not guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 6 – Attempted murder of an officer
- Benjamin Song – not guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 7 – Attempted murder of an officer
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 8 – Discharging a firearm during a violent crime (three counts)
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 9 – Discharging a firearm
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 10 – Discharging a firearm
- Benjamin Song – guilty
- Autumn Hill – not guilty
- Zachary Evetts – not guilty
- Meagan Morris – not guilty
- Maricela Rueda – not guilty
Count 11 – Corruptly concealing a document
- Daniel Rolando Sanchez‑Estrada – guilty
Count 12 – Conspiracy to conceal documents
- Daniel Rolando Sanchez‑Estrada – guilty
- Maricela Rueda – guilty
Song faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. Arnold, Evetts, Morris, Rueda, Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto each face between 10 and 60 years. Sanchez Estrada faces up to 40 years, according to federal prosecutors.
Seven additional defendants pleaded guilty to a single count of providing material support to terrorists, and each faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
Sentencing for all 16 defendants will be set by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who presided over the trial.
Surveillance video and seized items shown
The trial featured testimony from investigators, law enforcement officers, and several cooperating witnesses.
Prosecutors showed surveillance footage of fireworks along the facility’s tree line and evidence gathered after police arrived, including weapons, tactical gear, and vandalized vehicles.
Witnesses described how protesters set off fireworks, spray-painted cars, and fled when officers responded, while one cooperating witness testified that Benjamin Song later admitted to shooting an officer.
Investigators also traced the defendants’ phone locations and presented seized items from their homes. Testimony also detailed meetings, group chats, and efforts to help Song evade capture after the shooting.
Defense attorneys challenged the credibility of cooperating witnesses, questioned the use of terms like “tactical,” and argued the group had gathered to protest rather than carry out a coordinated attack. None of the defense attorneys chose to present their own cases, feeling that the government did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
