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All Members of Texas Antifa Cell Convicted in First Federal Terrorism Trial
Nine defendants accused of a July 4, 2025 ambush on a Texas ICE facility faced charges including providing support to terrorists and attempted murder of federal officers.
Andy Ngo
Mar 13, 2026
FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal jury in Fort Worth, Texas has convicted all nine members of a North Texas Antifa cell in the first federal Antifa terrorism trial in U.S. history.
The verdict followed two full days of deliberations after a trial that lasted more than two weeks.
Benjamin Song, Cameron Arnold (a Trantifa known as “Autumn Hill”), Bradford Morris (another Trantifa activist known as “Meagan Morris”), Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada were indicted last year on federal charges including providing material support to terrorists, rioting, use of an explosive device and obstruction.
Jurors found the defendants guilty of providing material support to terrorists, rioting, conspiracy to use/carry explosives and using/carrying explosives.
The jury acquitted the group on two of the charges: aiding attempted murder and aiding firearm discharge.
Antifa associates are threatening violence in reaction to the verdict
Benjamin Song, whom prosecutors described as the ringleader, wasn’t charged with the explosives-related charges but was convicted of the more serious attempted murder of a peace officer as well as multiple counts related to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The other defendants were acquitted on those firearm counts.
Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada, a Mexican national, was found guilty of sonspiracy to conceal documents after the attack, as was his partner, Maricela Rueda.
The defendants, described by prosecutors as members of a North Texas Antifa cell, were accused of carrying out an ambush-style shooting attack on the Prairieland ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas on July 4, 2025.
Antifa tabling outside the courthouse. Photo: Kelly Neidert
As the verdict was being read out, some of the Antifa supporters started wailing and crying, resulting in two of them being ejected from the courtroom. Defendants Zachary Evetts and Bradford Morris brown down in tears. Ringleader Benjamin Song continued smirking.
The trial was beset by a one-week delay after a mistrial was declared during jury selection when the judge learned one of the defense attorneys questioning potential jurors was wearing a left-wing political shirt.
Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross testified during the first week of trial that he was shot in the neck during the attack. His blood-stained bulletproof vest was entered into evidence.
Antifa supporters had circulated claims online falsely claiming the officer faked his injuries.
Jurors were also shown the large cache of weapons and ammunition seized from the suspects. Investigators recovered mobile phones stored in Faraday bags designed to block signals, along with Antifa and anarchist anti-government propaganda that prosecutors said reflected the group’s ideology.
Defense attorneys offered several arguments, including that the gathering was intended to be a peaceful protest and that the defendants did not anticipate it turning into a shooting, even though they arrived with tactical gear and weapons. Others argued the prosecution itself was improper because protest activity is protected.
Song’s attorney suggested his client fired his rifle only after police arrived and acted as the aggressors.
Jurors heard testimony from five co-defendants who pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government. Two other defendants who also pleaded guilty were not called to testify. The defense did not call any witnesses.
Some of the defendants who pleaded guilty admitted they were motivated by Antifa ideology and had organized as a cell.
Some Antifa accounts online urged violent retaliation against the cooperating witnesses.
“the prairieland defendants that turned into state witnesses need to watch their fucking backs until the day they die,” threatened one far-left account on X after the verdict was read.
One cooperating witness, Lynette Sharp, testified that members of the group trained together with firearms and coordinated the direct action through the encrypted messaging app Signal.
At one point during Sharp’s testimony, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman cleared the courtroom or jurors and warned Song to stop mouthing words to her while she was on the stand.
Some Antifa accounts online urged violent retaliation against the cooperating witnesses.
Other witnesses for the prosecution included an expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Kyle Shideler, a researcher who studies Antifa.
Defense attorneys attempted to discredit the witnesses during cross-examination, portraying the ATF expert as uninformed and dismissing Shideler as a “right-wing” extremist.
It also emerged during the trial that Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, and Savanna Batten were part of a separate Antifa cell that made extremist Antifa propaganda in zines.
Outside the federal courthouse, Antifa supporters gathered daily during the trial with signs and tables set up to show support for the defendants.
“This is a show trial,” one large banner read. Another banner criticized the court for Antifa not being able to fully pack the small public gallery in the courtroom where the trial was ongoing.
Supporters also organized demonstrations aimed at gaining visibility in front of jurors shortly before jury deliberations began.
During closing arguments, a lawyer for defendant Zachary Evetts argued the demonstration was meant to deliver “a message of hope to the foreigner who resides in our land.”
Prosecutor Shawn Smith rejected that claim, telling jurors the group arrived armed with firearms, body armor and medical supplies and dressed in “black bloc,” wearing all black to conceal their identities.
Smith said the tactics were “hallmarks” of Antifa.
“That’s why understanding antifa is important to this case,” he said.
Antifa supporters outside the federal courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Gatto argued that co-conspirators can be held responsible for violence committed by members of the group, comparing the case to a group bank robbery where one participant shoots someone during the crime.
Defense lawyers countered that the shooting was not planned. A lawyer for Song said what happened at the detention center was “a tragedy” but that “no one intended anyone to get hurt.”
The case marks the first federal terrorism trial involving Antifa members and the most significant federal prosecution tied to the movement since President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September 2025 designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
The first state prosecution of an organized cell was in 2021 was in San Diego County. Prosecutors were able to convict 12 members of So Cal Antifa, dismantling the group in the process.
Antifa are urging ‘noise demos’ across the country
Convictions for attempted murder of a federal officer and providing material support to terrorists each carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
The 18 defendants in total are still facing state charges that include domestic terrorism, conspiracy and attempted murder.
Antifa have urged their comrades to organize their own “noise demos” in support of the defendants. The terror cell convicted today called their ambush attack a “noise demo.”
Sentencing is scheduled for June 18.
