Former Marine gets 100 years in prison as judge calls ICE detention center ambush ‘an assault on democracy’
Eight protesters charged Ministry of Justice Antifa, affiliated with the far-left network, was sentenced to decades in federal prison on Tuesday for their role in the violent ambush outside a North Texas immigration detention center on July 4, 2025.
Benjamin Song, former US A Marine Corps reservist previously convicted of attempted murder for shooting Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross has been sentenced to a maximum of 100 years behind bars, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Seven other defendants, including Autumn Hill and Savanna Batten, who were each sentenced to 50 years in prison, were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years, according to the report.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor called the incident not a protest but an “attack on democracy.”
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Prosecutor Frank Gatto urged the judge to impose harsh sentences, saying the defendants held extremist beliefs and “believed that violence was justified.”
The lengthy sentences followed a federal jury trial in Fort Worth for the defendants, who were described by the Justice Department as members of an organization. North Texas Antifa cellHe was convicted of providing material support to terrorists, inciting a riot and conspiring to use and transport explosives, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Officials said an ambush was set up Prairieland ICE detention center It included fireworks, gunfire directed at officers, and damage to vehicles and buildings.
FILE – Law enforcement officials gather outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, after an ambush on July 4, 2025. Authorities said a group created a distraction with fireworks and graffiti before opening fire on correctional officers and police officers outside the facility.
(Getty Images)
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Despite their convictions, the defendants and their families denied any connection to Antifa, claiming they were demonstrating in support of detained immigrants, AP reported.
Song’s lawyer, Phillip Hayes, said his client only provided “suppressive fire” and police officer He was hit by a ricocheting bullet after “aggressively” drawing his gun.
FILE – Several suspects in the ambush attack at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas stand in front of a photo taken from the scene.
Noting Song’s intention to appeal, Hayes said, “Song has had a perfect life except for this day. He’s a former sailor. He’s a good student.” he said. “He had a lot of good qualities that were overlooked. The judge went ahead and did the best he could.”
The case and subsequent convictions have been a focus of the Trump administration, which has prioritized a crackdown on far-left militant groups. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order Identifying Antifa as domestic terrorist organization.
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After the first guilty verdicts, the Chief Prosecutor Pam Bondi FBI official Kash Patel said the administration will “systematically dismantle Antifa,” while underscoring the bureau’s 24/7 commitment to finding and dismantling Antifa networks that attack federal law enforcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original article source: Ex-Marine sentenced to 100 years in prison as judge calls ICE detention center ambush ‘assault on democracy’
