(The Epoch Times) — Eight defendants in a landmark Texas Antifa trial were found guilty Friday of terrorism-related charges, carrying explosives, and rioting in a shooting incident at an immigration facility outside Dallas on July 4, 2025, that left one officer wounded.
Those defendants included Benjamin Song, Cameron Arnold (also known as Autumn Hill), Zachary Evetts, Bradford Morris (also known as Meagan Morris), Maricela Rueda, Savanna Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto.
Additionally, Benjamin Song, the defendant identified by prosecutors as the shooter in the attack on the facility, was found guilty of attempted murder and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The officer was shot in the neck seconds after getting out of his vehicle at the scene, but survived.
The government counted the results as a win that would send a message to extremist groups.
Several of the defendants avoided a conviction on the most serious charges Song faced.
Arnold, Evetts, Morris, and Rueda were found not guilty of attempted murder and discharging a firearm.
The ninth defendant, Daniel Rolando Sánchez-Estrada, was found guilty of two charges: concealing documents and conspiracy to conceal.
The federal trial in Fort Worth could open the door to future legal action against members of Antifa, known for their signature black bloc clothing and face coverings.
“Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities, not under President [Donald] Trump,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.
“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 added in an X post that “violent extremists” received justice for their actions.
“They ambushed law enforcement, shot an officer in the neck, and thought they’d get away with it,” he stated.
The case received national attention because it marked the first time members of Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” faced terrorism-related charges, although they have been involved in protests across the country that have, at times, turned violent.
The trial followed Trump’s executive order on Sept. 22, 2025, designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
The jury, which began deliberations on Thursday after nearly three weeks of evidence, came to its decision within two days.
Sentencing is set for June.
Song faces a minimum of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Arnold, Evetts, Morris, Rueda, Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto each face a sentence ranging from 10 to 60 years in federal prison, while Sanchez Estrada faces up to 40 years.
Attorneys for the nine defendants rested their case without calling a single witness, later arguing that the government had failed to prove its case.
The defense argued that their clients were conducting a “noise demonstration” with fireworks at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility to show solidarity with the illegal immigrants inside.
They argued the defendants were there to peacefully protest, not to ambush officers. They claimed the defendants brought AR-style rifles to the scene as protection from counter-protestors.
The attorneys for the defendants also said Antifa is an ideology, not an operational group.
This article was originally published by The Epoch Times.
Darlene McCormick Sanchez | The Epoch Times
Darlene McCormick Sanchez is an Epoch Times reporter who covers border security and immigration, election integrity, and Texas politics.
Ms. McCormick Sanchez has 20 years of experience in media and has worked for outlets including Waco Tribune Herald, Tampa Tribune, and Waterbury Republican-American.
