A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted nine defendants for their roles in the July 4, 2025, attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jurors delivered a mixed verdict, meaning the defendants were not all convicted of the same counts.
Verdict details
Jurors returned their verdict around 2:30 p.m. Friday at the federal courthouse in Fort Worth following roughly a day and a half of deliberations, as reported by FOX 4 News. The case followed a 12-day trial that began Feb. 23, 2026. Prosecutors presented more than 45 witnesses and over 210 exhibits, the DOJ said.
One defendant, Benjamin Song, was convicted of the most serious charge, attempted murder, tied to the shooting of Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross, according to FOX 4.
FOX 4 also reported that all but one of the nine defendants were found guilty on terrorism, riot, and explosives-related counts. Those counts included providing material support to terrorists, rioting, conspiracy to use and carry explosives, and using explosives during a riot.
The exception, Daniel Estrada, was convicted of concealing records and conspiracy to conceal documents. FOX 4 reported Estrada was not present the night of the incident.
Maricela Rueda, who was among the eight found guilty on the main set of charges, was also convicted of conspiracy to conceal documents.
What authorities allege
Authorities say the July 4, 2025, attack occurred outside the Prairieland facility and involved fireworks, damage to buildings and vehicles, and gunfire directed at officers.
The DOJ described the defendants as being part of a North Texas “Antifa cell.”
Prosecutors argued the operation was orchestrated by Song and carried out by members of what they described as a North Texas Antifa cell, FOX 4 reported.
Defense attorneys disputed that characterization, contending there was no “ambush” and arguing the defendants did not intend for violence to occur.
Official statements
ICE Director Todd Lyons described the incident as a violent attempt to “protest” enforcement activity and said the verdicts show that “those who choose violence over lawful expression will face the full force of the American justice system.”
FBI Director Kash Patel framed the verdict as a warning about consequences for targeting federal officers. “The guilty verdicts in today’s case go to show this FBI’s 24/7 commitment to identifying, locating, and dismantling ANTIFA members and their networks,” Patel told Fox News Digital. “I want to thank our Dallas field office and great partners for delivering justice. If you attack federal law enforcement this FBI will use every resource at our disposal to hunt you down.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi also issued a statement tied to the verdict, saying: “Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities — not under President Trump.”
Bondi added: “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.”
What comes next
The Fort Worth verdicts will move next into sentencing and, likely, appeals.