Jury finds defendants guilty of terrorism-related charges in attack on Prairieland ICE detention center

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 facility 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."  

FBI Director Kash Patel said the verdict underscores the bureau's
commitment to dismantling violent extremist networks and the financial
pipelines that support them. 

"Terrorists who target our agents will face the full force of federal
law," Patel said in a post on X. 

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. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/verdict-prairieland-alvarado-ice-facil
ity-federal-trial/