LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Several people are facing federal charges after the FBI stopped a plan to allegedly overthrow the government and kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
During a joint press conference Thursday afternoon, Attorney General Dana Nessel said officers executed a series of search and arrest warrants across the state including in Belleville, Cadillac, Canton, Charlotte, Clarkston, Grand Rapids, Hartland, Luther, Milford, Munith, Orion Township, Ovid, Plainwell, Kalamazoo, Shelbyville, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Waterford, and Zeeland.
“Our efforts uncovered elaborate plans to endanger the lives of law enforcement officers, government officials, and the broader public,” Nessel said.
— The Federal Charges —
U.S. Attorney Birge says six individuals were arrested Wednesday night charged with conspiring to kidnap the governor. Those suspects are: Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta.
The individuals were planning to kidnap Governor Whitmer from her vacation home before the November election. All of the suspects can face up to life in prison. Five are residents of Michigan while Croft is a resident of Delaware.
“We want the public to know that federal and state law enforcement are committed to working together to make sure violent extremists never succeed with their plans,” Birge said.
— The Plot —
The October 6th filing reads, “In early 2020, the FBI became aware through social media that a group of individuals were discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components.”
Two informants, one who was paid $8,600 and the other $14,800, as well as undercover officers unveiled most of the details of the plot.
Birge says the alleged conspirators were using encrypted messaging platforms, code words and phrases to attempt to hide their plan. They even watched the governor’s vacation home on two occasions. Fox and Croft also talked about detonating explosive devices to divert police from the area of the home. Fox allegedly purchased a taser and the group “successfully detonated an improvised explosive device wrapped in shrapnel” to test it.
The plan was to reportedly take Governor Whitmer to Wisconsin in a “snatch and grab” operation and try her for treason in a kangaroo court.
Many of the suspects were arrested on the east side of the state when they were meeting to pool funds and exchange tactical gear.
Birge adds that the investigation is still underway and they’re working to schedule arraignments and preliminary hearings.
— State Charges —
In addition, Nessel has also announced that her office has filed state-level charges against seven people who are now in custody. According to her written statement, the suspects “are alleged to have called on the groups’ members to identify the home addresses of law enforcement officers in order to target them; made threats of violence to instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse; and engaged in the planning and training for an operation to attack the state Capitol building and kidnap government officials, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. ”
Those individuals charged include:
- Paul Bellar, 21, of Milford: Providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership, and felony firearm
- Shawn Fix, 38, of Belleville: Providing material support for terrorist acts, and felony firearm
- Eric Molitor, 36, of Cadillac: Providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearm
- Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell: Providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearm
- William Null, 38, of Shelbyville: Providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearm.
- Pete Musico, 42, and Joseph Morrison, 42, who live together in Munith: One count each of threat of terrorism, one count each of gang membership, one count each of providing material support for terrorist acts; and one count felony firearm
Michael Null, William Null and Molitor were arraigned Thursday. Their probable cause conferences are set for 1 p.m. October 14th and their preliminary exams are scheduled for October 21st.
Musico and Morrison are expected to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Thursday in Jackson County. Fix is in custody, and his arraignment is pending in Antrim County.
Nessel said these seven people were known to be members of the “Wolverine Watchmen” militia group or associates of the group.
— Federal Court Documents —
According to documents, Croft, Fox, and about 13 other people apparently gathered in Dublin Ohio to talk about state governments that they believed were violating the U.S Constitution, including the state of Michigan and Governor Whitmer.
The group was allegedly angry about the governor’s executive orders issued during the coronavirus pandemic and her move to shut down businesses.
The affidavit states, “Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor.”
Fox said he needed “200 men” to storm the Capitol building and take hostages. The group was allegedly going to meet Wednesday night to purchase explosives and exchange tactical gear. They were also planning to try the governor for “treason.”
“The group decided they needed to increase their numbers and encouraged each other to talk to their neighbors and spread their message,” the document reads.
During the press conference U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew Schneider said, “All of us in Michigan can disagree about politics but those disagreements should never, ever amount to violence.”
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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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