A Converse man is in federal custody after authorities investigated reported threats and found firearms while searching his San Antonio-area home.
AUSTIN, TX— Texas and federal authorities arrested a 40-year-old man accused of planning a violent attack on the Texas Capitol after a reported threat prompted an overnight investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and FBI.
Benny Caldera Jr. of Converse, near San Antonio, was arrested early Wednesday, Sept. 30, after DPS said it received credible information the previous evening about a possible attack planned for Oct. 1. He initially faced a state charge of making a terroristic threat against a public servant and was later taken into federal custody. Federal prosecutors have charged him with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The allegations remain under investigation, and Caldera is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, DPS received a report Tuesday about threats Caldera allegedly made concerning the Capitol. State authorities obtained arrest and search warrants for his Converse residence, while the FBI assisted by conducting surveillance. DPS agents arrested Caldera inside the home at about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
A federal criminal complaint alleges Caldera told another person that he intended to go to the Capitol and “shoot it up.” Prosecutors said he specifically expressed anger toward the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known as AIPAC. The complaint also alleges Caldera made threatening remarks about the group and said during a recorded conversation that he had made up his mind and had said goodbye to his parents. Authorities have not publicly established that Caldera had taken steps to enter the Capitol or carried out any attack.
During a search of Caldera’s residence, DPS Criminal Investigations Division agents found a loaded .357-caliber revolver and a 12-gauge shotgun in a bedroom closet, according to federal prosecutors. Investigators also reported finding ammunition. The federal complaint alleges that the serial number on the revolver’s frame had been obliterated and appeared to have been filed off. That allegation led to the federal firearms charge announced Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said the case began after a person reported the alleged threats to authorities. “Had the alleged threats not been taken seriously and reported to law enforcement, we could have a very different and tragic story to tell today,” Simmons said. The FBI is investigating the federal case with assistance from DPS, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lathrop is prosecuting it.
The case also produced some initial confusion about Caldera’s custody status. Bexar County records listed a $75,000 bond and indicated that he had been released on bond on the state charge. DPS later said Caldera was not free and had instead been arrested by the FBI at the Bexar County Jail and transferred into federal custody. The Texas Tribune reported that DPS sought to correct what the agency described as misinformation circulating online about his status.
Authorities also gave differing levels of detail about whether anyone else may have been involved. A notice sent to Texas Senate personnel described Caldera as the main suspect and referred to suspected co-conspirators. DPS’ initial public statement did not identify additional suspects or announce other arrests. Officials have not publicly established that other people participated in a plot, and the investigation remains active.
The Capitol remained open during regular operating hours after the arrest. DPS notified state lawmakers and increased its presence around the building as investigators continued working on the case. The agency later said there was no reason to believe an ongoing threat remained against the Capitol. Gov. Greg Abbott publicly thanked DPS and the FBI for their work in making the arrest.
Caldera faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted of the firearms offense, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge after a conviction. The criminal complaint is an allegation and does not establish guilt, and authorities have said the broader investigation into the alleged Capitol threat is continuing.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.