A federal jury in Fort Worth, Texas, convicted eight of nine defendants on Friday on charges of providing material support to terrorists stemming from a violent attack on the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center in Alvarado last July 4. The verdicts mark the first time federal prosecutors have secured material support to terrorism convictions against individuals accused of antifa affiliations, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.

The incident unfolded late on July 4, 2025, when at least 11 individuals, dressed in black bloc attire with faces covered and some wearing body armor, approached the facility housing individuals awaiting deportation. They set off fireworks as a diversion, vandalized employee vehicles by slashing tires and spray-painting slogans such as "Fight ICE terror with class war," damaged surveillance cameras and a guard shack, and confronted unarmed ICE guards who emerged and called 911.

Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross arrived minutes later and was shot in the neck above his collarbone, entering his shoulder and exiting his upper back, while ordering the group to the ground. Prosecutors identified defendant Benjamin Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, as the shooter who yelled "get to the rifles!" and fired about 11 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle before it jammed. Gross survived after being airlifted to a hospital and firing back three shots.

Authorities recovered 11 firearms, body armor, radios, masks, and fireworks from the scene, along with evidence of prior reconnaissance and coordination via encrypted apps. Song evaded capture until July 15. The group, dubbed a "North Texas antifa cell" by prosecutors, had acquired over 50 firearms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A federal grand jury indicted nine defendants, Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris (aka Meagan Morris), Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada, on charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use explosives, attempted murder of federal officers, and discharging firearms during a crime of violence. Seven others faced similar charges via criminal information.

Before trial, several defendants pleaded guilty to material support charges, facing up to 15 years; some testified for the prosecution, including Seth Sikes, who said he aimed to bring joy to detainees. The trial began February 17, 2026, but ended in a mistrial over a defense attorney's T-shirt; it restarted February 23. Prosecution and defense rested on March 10, with deliberations starting on March 12.

During closings, prosecutor Shawn Smith argued the group's preparation, firearms, medical kits, body armor, and operational security showed it was a "direct action," not a peaceful protest. Defense attorneys, including Blake Burns and Phillip Hayes, maintained it was a noise demonstration supporting immigrants amid Trump administration deportations, with no planned violence and firearms for protection; they called charges overreach, threatening First Amendment rights.

The eight convictions carry potential sentences of up to 15 years or more on stacked charges, with all sentencing set for June. The case drew scrutiny as a test of prosecuting domestic extremism amid heightened focus on antifa under the Trump administration.