A man linked to an anti-government extremist movement is heading to federal prison for a century after being convicted of shooting a police officer in the neck during a coordinated ambush outside an immigration detention facility in Texas.
Benjamin Song was sentenced Tuesday to 100 years in federal prison for his role in the July 4 attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Alvarado, Texas. The incident was no spontaneous outburst. Prosecutors say it was a calculated operation, weeks in the making, designed to lure law enforcement officers outside and ambush them.
The scheme started as a demonstration outside the detention center. Participants set off fireworks along the facility’s tree line, vandalized and spray-painted vehicles, and opened fire on responding officers. According to a report, the vandalism was deliberately used as a diversion to draw agents out into the open.
Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross responded to the scene and was struck by a bullet in the neck. He survived. Song was identified as the shooter.
A 12-day trial in February and March 2026 produced convictions for Song and eight co-defendants. Evidence included surveillance footage of fireworks being set off near the facility, weapons and tactical gear recovered from the scene, data from defendants’ cell phones, items seized from residences, and testimony from more than 45 witnesses. A cooperating witness testified that Song later admitted to shooting a law enforcement officer.
Song was convicted of attempted murder and three counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. His co-defendants faced charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use explosives during a riot, and related counts. The explosives referenced in the charges were fireworks. Seven of the trial defendants were acquitted of the attempted murder and aiding-and-abetting firearm charges.
Sentencing handed down Tuesday, June 23, reflected the severity of each defendant’s role. Maricela Rueda received 70 years. Autumn Hill, Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Meagan Morris, and Elizabeth Soto each received 50 years. Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada, who was also convicted of concealing documents in connection with his wife Rueda, received 30 years.
One of the nine convicted defendants, Ines Soto, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2026.
Seven additional defendants, including Seth Sikes, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas, pleaded guilty before trial to a single count of providing material support to terrorists. Each faces up to 15 years in prison and is awaiting sentencing.
The case stands as one of the most serious domestic terrorism prosecutions tied to extremist activity targeting federal law enforcement in recent years.