7 more defendants sentenced in Fort Worth in Prairieland ICE shooting case

Seven additional defendants were sentenced Wednesday in Fort Worth for their roles in a domestic terrorism case involving a July 4, 2025, protest that ended in a shooting wounding a police officer at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado.

Ines Soto, who was convicted along with eight other defendants at a trial in March, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison. The jury found Soto guilty of rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, and using and carrying explosives during a riot.

Joy “Rowan” Gibson and Rebecca Morgan, who pleaded guilty but were not cooperating witnesses in the case, were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years. They were convicted of rioting, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to use and carry explosives.

Four more defendants pleaded guilty to one count of providing material support to terrorists and were witnesses in the case: Seth Sikes was sentenced to six years, Nathan Baumann was sentenced to 22 months, and Lynette Sharp and John Thomas were sentenced to 110 months.

Soto, Gibson and Morgan were sentenced by Northern Texas Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor. Sikes, Baumann, Sharp and Thomas were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who oversaw the trial.

One more defendant who also pleaded guilty, Susan Kent, will be sentenced on July 6.

The other eight defendants convicted at trial were sentenced last week to between 30 and 100 years in prison. Benjamin Song, who was found guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of Alvarado police Lt. Thomas Gross, received the longest sentence at 100 years.

Prosecutors have described the case as the first domestic terrorism trial to lead to convictions of alleged antifa cell members. The defendants denied having connections to antifa.

Antifa is short for anti-fascists. It is not a single organization but a decentralized movement of far-left militant groups who confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations, according to the Associated Press.

Defense attorneys argued during the trial that the defendants planned a peaceful protest and noise demonstration with fireworks to show support for people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Attorneys and families of the defendants have said they will appeal the case.

Family members speak at sentencing hearing

Soto’s son spoke in front of Judge O’Connor to talk about his father’s character. He described his father as an intelligent man with principles.

Soto’s son, who is an Army officer, said he learned discipline and work ethic from his father. He also said his father has integrity and has never taken more than what he needs.

Soto and Morgan did not speak when asked by the judge.

Morgan’s attorney asked that her young age, 23, be considered and said Morgan had a difficult childhood and mental health issues.

Morgan’s mother spoke at the sentencing and described her daughter as “kind,” “compassionate” and a person of integrity.

Her mother said Morgan is “incredibly emotionally intelligent” and has always helped people who had nothing to navigate life.

The mother said she cannot imagine a day without her daughter and that she will always be proud of her.

Josh Morgan, Rebecca’s brother, sobbed as he listened to his mother talk about his sister. The older brother said his sister was active in her church and exhibited her faith by showing love to everyone.

Josh Morgan said her sister is a hard-working person and the family is looking forward to “seeing her outside.”

Eight people from the Gibson family stood up in the courtroom when called by an attorney to show their support.

When asked by the judge to give a statement, Gibson said, “I love my partner, friends, my family and humanity.”

Attorneys of some defendants react

“I think the judge was very insightful about what needed to happen, and I believe he gave a very fair, well thought-out and concerned sentence,“ said attorney Ben Florey, who represented Nathan Baumann.

“He recognized my client was an outlier, but he wasn’t like the others, and we made a really important effort to try to make sure everybody knew that,” Florey said. “(Baumann) is a good kid. He just got caught up in trying to find a group to belong to.”

Co-counsel Robert Leahy said he is “very pleased” with the sentence that Judge Pittman gave. “I think it’s very accurate and fair, and reflects Mr. Baumann’s involvement in this case,” Leahy said.

Baumann receiving 22 months in a case like this is “pretty remarkable,” and Judge Pittman was “very considerate and gave a lot of thought about my client, his age, his circumstance, and his involvement in the case,” Leahy said.

Talking about the sentencing disparities between Baumann and other defendants, Leahy said typically the federal sentencing guidelines were written to try to reduce sentencing disparities and Judge Pittman took the guidelines into account, but “he departed and gave a significant variance.”

Attorney Phillip Linder, who represented Seth Sikes, said judges work very hard and do a great job. They have a tough job to dispense justice in a “fair and equal way,” he said.

“I think the sentences last week were high, because those are people who went to trial, and there are different issues when you don’t accept responsibility, and you go to trial, and an officer is shot and injured, and it could have possibly died, and so when you’re unwilling to acknowledge responsibility that’s kind of the price you pay,” Linder said.

This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 10:58 AM.