MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *8 guilty, 5 NG*

[worm]

All great points @Dawookie , I agree. I was in my early 20s when Waco unfolded and I well remember the impression that it made on me knowing THATS what our govt will do to somebody for having different views. We know too that McVeigh was actually at Waco and seen on news film outside passing out gun pamphlets.
I read a lot on Rudolph since I used to go “outdoorsing”in that area of the Carolinas quite often. He was well versed in this ideology as well since he was raised around it. I’m not so sure he was as anti abortion as racist, having read quite a bit of his own writings and he seems to have found his race bents at a very young age. As someone who prefers to live alone in the country, I can understand and appreciate these folks not wanting to be bothered but I don’t get the hate.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Michigan town alarmed by FBI claim that militia planned Gov. Whitmer’s abduction there

One of the men arrested was Ty G. Garbin, 26, who federal agents said owns the land in Luther where the September weekend meetup and surveillance exercise took place.

Except, in the town where the mayor said “everyone knows everyone,” no on MLive spoke with had ever heard Garbin’s name before it was publicized, and a representative for the Lake County Equalization Office, which oversees taxation and property rolls in Luther, said they have no records of property under Garbin’s name.

 

[Dawookie]

All great points @Dawookie , I agree. I was in my early 20s when Waco unfolded and I well remember the impression that it made on me knowing THATS what our govt will do to somebody for having different views. We know too that McVeigh was actually at Waco and seen on news film outside passing out gun pamphlets.
I read a lot on Rudolph since I used to go “outdoorsing”in that area of the Carolinas quite often. He was well versed in this ideology as well since he was raised around it. I’m not so sure he was as anti abortion as racist, having read quite a bit of his own writings and he seems to have found his race bents at a very young age. As someone who prefers to live alone in the country, I can understand and appreciate these folks not wanting to be bothered but I don’t get the hate.

[/QUOTE] Yeah I think between Ruby Ridge and Waco and how close they occured to each other, it radicalized a lot of people on the fringe. Then with all the other stuff that has come out since with both of those incidents, along with information about the OKC bombing, has only made it worse. There's quite a bit of interesting information out there that didn't get media coverage because it involved the FBI.

Rudolph was most definitely more racist then he was anti-abortion. Although there isn't a link between the two, a group called the Aryan Republican Army put out a video calling for the bombing of the Olympics. Here's where it gets interesting. The ARA was linked to McVeigh and one of the people I referred to who committed suicide in prison, was suspected to be the person with McVeigh that day in OKC. It's a complex situation of links between all three incidents involving the FBI and what appears to be cover ups along the way

 

[worm]

The way OKC was planned out is similar to this case as well. I had forgotten about the other mystery suspect that wasn’t Nichols or that other guy who tried to back out at the last minute. I’m surprised that they never found that piece of the puzzle.
I recently watched that cable movie on the Rudolph case and it’s way off from what the feds report. I just don’t buy the big “support group” angle that was supposed to be helping him, he was too much of a loner for that.

 

[Dawookie]

The way OKC was planned out is similar to this case as well. I had forgotten about the other mystery suspect that wasn’t Nichols or that other guy who tried to back out at the last minute. I’m surprised that they never found that piece of the puzzle.
I recently watched that cable movie on the Rudolph case and it’s way off from what the feds report. I just don’t buy the big “support group” angle that was supposed to be helping him, he was too much of a loner for that.

They did find him but he committed "suicide" while in prison right before he was supposed to testify. The guy that got flown out of the country was apparently an FBI informant and had scouted OKC three different times in the months leading up to the bombing. They've pretty much swept everything under the rug hoping that it will be left alone.

What movie is that? I hadn't heard about that

 

[Dawookie]

Michigan town alarmed by FBI claim that militia planned Gov. Whitmer’s abduction there

One of the men arrested was Ty G. Garbin, 26, who federal agents said owns the land in Luther where the September weekend meetup and surveillance exercise took place.

Except, in the town where the mayor said “everyone knows everyone,” no on MLive spoke with had ever heard Garbin’s name before it was publicized, and a representative for the Lake County Equalization Office, which oversees taxation and property rolls in Luther, said they have no records of property under Garbin’s name.

That's very interesting. Googling Luther, it says it's a village of 326 people so that's highly odd that noone ever heard of him. And then for the county to say they have no records under his name which leads to the question of if it's under his name, then whose name is it under?

 

[worm]

They did find him but he committed "suicide" while in prison right before he was supposed to testify. The guy that got flown out of the country was apparently an FBI informant and had scouted OKC three different times in the months leading up to the bombing. They've pretty much swept everything under the rug hoping that it will be left alone.

What movie is that? I hadn't heard about that

It was called “Hunted” and it’s on the Spectrum cable network but I’m sure online too. It’s a well produced and performed movie but devoid of facts. I thought it was to be a documentary at my first learning of it, and they did make a short one, but it’s a movie.

 

[Dawookie]

It was called “Hunted” and it’s on the Spectrum cable network but I’m sure online too. It’s a well produced and performed movie but devoid of facts. I thought it was to be a documentary at my first learning of it, and they did make a short one, but it’s a movie.

I'll have to check it out. I didn't know they made a movie about him

 

[JerseyGirl]

That's very interesting. Googling Luther, it says it's a village of 326 people so that's highly odd that noone ever heard of him. And then for the county to say they have no records under his name which leads to the question of if it's under his name, then whose name is it under?

more information about the Luther property:

Hartland Man At Center Of Whitmer Plot

24-year-old Ty Garbin’s home in the Hartland Meadows manufactured home community was raided by an FBI team while he was reportedly taken into custody at another location.

The group met for training on property Garbin owns in Luther, located in Lake County.

They detonated an improvised explosive device during a "field exercise" at the Luther property.

Authorities say that while they were at the Luther property, Fox said he had already surveilled the governor’s vacation home and chose Garbin and several others to return for nighttime surveillance on September 12th. The group planned to meet on October 7th, the day of the raid, to make payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.

 

[Knitty]

Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot: Meet the 13 men charged in plan

Fox "said he needed '200 men' to storm the Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, and take hostages, including the Governor. [He] explained they would try the Governor of Michigan for 'treason,' and he said they would execute the plan before the November 2020 elections." ...

the FBI reviewed encrypted group chats that indicated Garbin with Fox and others planned this week — Oct. 7 — "to make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear ...

Franks attended a meeting at the residence of a militia group member, but said that he was “not cool with offensive kidnapping” and added that he was “just there for training,” or words to that effect, according to court papers.

After the meeting, federal authorities allege, Franks still "actively continued to participate in the kidnapping plot." ...

Federal authorities also accused Harris of saying during an encrypted group chat that "Have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her. ..." ...

Lots more at the link.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Whitmer kidnap plot suspects face steep fight for bond

The hearings are expected to shed light on the criminal past of several accused members of the kidnapping plot. Though incomplete, available public records reveal nothing in the defendants' backgrounds comparable to a grand conspiracy to kill a prominent state leader and topple governments in several states.

The hearings give prosecutors a chance to argue the defendants are dangerous and flight risks because the conspiracy to commit kidnapping charge is a felony punishable by up to life in prison. The magistrate will consider other factors, too, including the defendants’ ties to Michigan.

“The odds of them being released on bond are not good,” said Keith Corbett, a prominent defense lawyer and former chief of the federal Organized Crime Strike Force in Detroit. “These guys are clearly dangerous based on the nature of the charges and you could have the greatest ties to the community but life in prison is a reason to split.”...

 

[Niner]

Well - that is weird @BetteDavisEyes - in the Kent County Jail site - it says they all have been released!
for example for one of them:

Inmate Detail
Name: ADAM DEAN FOX
Age: 37
Sex: MALE
Race: WHITE
Book #: 2009300
RID #: 00355907
FBI #:
SID #:
Booking Date: 10/08/2020
Eye Color: GREEN
Hair Color: BROWN
Height: 602
Weight: 235

Status: RELEASED

https://www.accesskent.com/InmateLookup/showDetail.do?bookNo=2009300

 

[MrsWatson]

Maybe (I hope) moved to federal custody?

 

[Niner]

Maybe (I hope) moved to federal custody?

That could be.... I hope!!

 

[dotr]

Extremist group’s plot to kidnap governor included plan to kill police
"We're cautious. We're absolutely more careful," said First Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police. "This is one of the tactics these anti-government, domestic terrorism groups use. Law enforcement is the face of the government. If you're mad at the government, you're mad at the police."

''FBI Special Agent Richard J. Trask II cited the risk to law enforcement officers in a criminal complaint filed last Tuesday in U.S. District Court:

"The militia group had already been brought to the attention of the FBI by a local police department in March 2020 when members of the militia group were attempting to obtain the addresses of local law enforcement officers," the filing says. "At the time, the FBI interviewed a member of the militia group who was concerned about the group's plan to target and kill police officers and that person agreed to become a CHS (confidential human source)."

''Police told the Free Press that family members are rarely informed when individual officers are getting protective detail at home because it would be too unsettling to the family.
Bob Stevenson, a retired police chief in Livonia and now executive director of the Michigan Police Chiefs Association, said: "The threat is always there but this raises it to another level of alarm when you start to target the officers when they're not in their uniform, not on duty, not working. Now they're tracking you."

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 13th:
*Detention Hearing (@ 9:30am CT) – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (37) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Ty Gerard Garbin (24) (born 1995) of Hartland, *Kaleb James Franks (26) (born 1994) of Waterford Township, *Daniel Joseph Harris (23) (born 1997) of Lake Orion and *Brandon Caserta (32) (born 1988) of Canton Township arrested & charged (10/8/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime.
10/6/20: Criminal complaint:
https://www.scribd.com/document/479237112/Criminal-Complaint-Plot-to-Kidnap-Gov-Whitmer
The plan was to take Whitmer to Wisconsin & hold a kangaroo court trial for treason.
10/9/20 Update: First appearance for detention hearing in court on Tuesday, 10/13/20 in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Berens in federal court in Grand Rapids.
Accomplices:
*Eric Molitor (36), Michael Null (38), William Null (38), Paul Bellar (21), Shawn Fix (38), Pete Musico (42) & Joseph Matthew Morrison (26) all charged with State crimes.

 

[JerseyGirl]

@Niner

A sixth defendant, Barry Croft, who was arrested on the East Coast has a similar hearing in Delaware at 2:45 p.m.

Bond unlikely for suspects in Whitmer kidnapping case

The defendants facing federal charges are: Adam Fox, 37, of Grand Rapids; Ty Garbin, 24, of Hartland Twp.; Kaleb Franks, 26, of Waterford; Brandon Caserta, 32, of Canton; and Daniel Harris, 23, of Lake Orion.

Barry Croft Jr., 44, of Bear, Del. — who was pardoned by Delaware Gov. John Carney last year, according to public documents — is being extradited to Michigan.

Six others — who state officials said are members of a paramilitary group, Wolverine Watchmen — were arraigned Friday on terrorism charges, with the seventh awaiting extradition to Michigan.

They are: Shawn Fix, 38, of Belleville; Eric Molitor, 36, of Cadillac; Pete Musico, 42, of Munith; Joseph Morrison, 26, also of Munith; Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell; and William Null, 38, of Shelbyville.

Paul Bellar, 21, of Milford, is the seventh and youngest of all the men charged. He was arrested in South Carolina and is being extradited to Michigan.

Musico and Morrison are scheduled for a probable cause conference in Jackson County on Oct. 16 and a preliminary hearing on Oct. 21.

Michael Null, William Null, Molitor and Fix are scheduled for a probable cause conference in Antrim County on Oct. 21, with preliminary exams Oct. 28.

 

[Niner]

Thank you @JerseyGirl ! I'll add Croft to my notes.

Michael Null, William Null, Molitor and Fix are scheduled for a probable cause conference in Antrim County on Oct. 21, with preliminary exams Oct. 28.

I had these guys probable cause on 10/14 & prelim on 10/21 - will change my notes.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 13th:
*Detention Hearing (@ 2:45pm ET) –DE/MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (37) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Ty Gerard Garbin (24) (born 1995) of Hartland, *Kaleb James Franks (26) (born 1994) of Waterford Township, *Daniel Joseph Harris (23) (born 1997) of Lake Orion and *Brandon Caserta (32) (born 1988) of Canton Township arrested & charged (10/8/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime.
10/6/20: Criminal complaint:
https://www.scribd.com/document/479237112/Criminal-Complaint-Plot-to-Kidnap-Gov-Whitmer
The plan was to take Whitmer to Wisconsin & hold a kangaroo court trial for treason.
10/9/20 Update: First appearance for detention hearing in court on Tuesday, 10/13/20 at 9:30am in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Berens in federal court in Grand Rapids. Croft has detention hearing in Delaware on 10/13/20 @ 2:45pm.
Accomplices:
*Eric Molitor (36), Michael Null (38), William Null (38), Paul Bellar (21), Shawn Fix (38), Pete Musico (42) & Joseph Matthew Morrison (26) all charged with State crimes.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Men accused in Whitmer plot talked about 'taking out' Virginia's governor, FBI says

Grand Rapids — Members of an alleged conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also talked about "taking out" a second politician, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, an FBI agent said Tuesday.

FBI Special Agent Richard Trask identified the Virginia governor, a Democrat, during a hearing in federal court in Grand Rapids during which a magistrate judge is expected to decide whether to release three members of the alleged conspiracy on bond pending trial...