Militia Plot to Kidnap and 'Try' Michigan Governor Whitmer Thwarted by Feds

[ArmenianJohn]

He got 6.

A man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer over the state's Covid-19 restrictions.

Wish it were the full 9 but HOORAY anyway!

 

[essentialsaltes]

Accused Whitmer kidnap plotters lose bid to dismiss criminal case

A federal judge Tuesday refused to dismiss the indictment against five members of an alleged plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, calling defense claims of entrapment and government overreaching a "heavy burden to carry."

 

[Fantine]

Good. Pass the popcorn.

 

[essentialsaltes]

2nd suspect in Michigan governor kidnapping plot to plead guilty, says he 'knowingly and voluntarily' joined plot

After trying everything he could, Kaleb Franks has cut a deal with the government in which he will plead guilty to his role in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and testify against his co-defendants, according to a new court filing.

“(Franks) was not entrapped or induced to commit any crimes by these individuals. (He) also knows (his co-defendants) were not entrapped, based on personal observation and discussions,” the plea deal states.

At another meeting, the group talked about planting explosive devices at Michigan State Police posts, with Fox allegedly saying that they could “storm the Capitol with 200 men, using machine guns and snipers.”

Then they cased the governor’s house – twice.

But before meeting up for a final field training exercise in October, the FBI got to them first.

Franks and his co-defendants face up to life in prison if convicted.

Cooperating typically leads to a lighter sentence, as it did with Garbin, who got six years after pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Jury acquits two in Michigan governor kidnap plot; deadlocks on two others

A federal jury acquitted two men of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and deadlocked on the counts against two others, apparently agreeing to some degree with defense claims that FBI agents entrapped the men in a violent plot shortly before the 2020 election.

A mistrial was declared for Fox and Croft, and federal authorities said they plan to go to trial a second time in hopes of convicting them.

The case marks one of the rare instances in which an entrapment defense was even partly successful in a terrorism case.

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[DaisyDay]

Michigan jury convicts 2 men of conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Two men accused of plotting to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer with a bomb were found guilty Tuesday.

After beginning deliberations Monday, a jury convicted Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. of conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer. Both were also found guilty of attempting to procure a weapon of mass destruction.

 

[essentialsaltes]

After trying everything he could, Kaleb Franks has cut a deal with the government in which he will plead guilty to his role in the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and testify against his co-defendants, according to a new court filing.

Cooperating typically leads to a lighter sentence, as it did with Garbin, who got six years after pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate.

A Michigan man involved in a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2020 was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday, federal prosecutors announced.

The big picture: Kaleb Franks, 28, of Waterford, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiring to kidnap the Michigan governor, had faced up to life in prison. But his sentence was reduced due to such factors as testifying at two federal trials, per a Department of Justice statement.

What's next: Fox and Croft [the two convicted co-defendants] are due to be sentenced in December.

 

[essentialsaltes]

3 more men found guilty in Whitmer kidnapping plot

A jury in Michigan has found three men guilty of providing material support for a terrorist act and two other state charges related to the 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico were also convicted of gang membership and felony possession of a firearm. Prosecutors alleged the men “engaged in the planning and training for an operation to attack the state Capitol building and kidnap government officials, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.” Providing material support is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and firearm possession carries a two-year mandatory prison sentence to be served consecutively, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Prosecutors say the men are members of a militia group known as the “Wolverine Watchmen.”

 

[Fantine]

Justice has been served.

 

[essentialsaltes]

3 more men found guilty in Whitmer kidnapping plot

Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico were also convicted of gang membership and felony possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors say the men are members of a militia group known as the “Wolverine Watchmen.”

Pete Musico, 44, who was the first person to receive his sentencing, was given at least 12 years in prison.
Musico's son-in-law Joseph Morrison, 28, was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.
Paul Bellar, 23, received at least seven years in prison.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Michigan jury convicts 2 men of conspiracy to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

A Michigan federal judge sentenced a man convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to 16 years in prison Tuesday.

Prosecutors said that Adam Fox was the leader of a plot to kidnap the Democratic governor from her summer home in 2020.

A jury convicted Fox and an accomplice in August on charges of kidnapping conspiracy and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

Another person involved in the plot, Barry Croft, is set for sentencing Wednesday. Croft was a part of the plan with Fox and the others, and practiced detonating explosives in preparation, prosecutors said at the trial.

Additionally, earlier this month, three other men involved in the plot – Pete Musico, Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar – were all sentenced on charges of gang participation, support of a terrorist act and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the Michigan attorney general’s office.

Musico and Bellar must serve a minimum of 12 years and seven years, respectively. The alleged “commander” of the group, Morrison – who, according to affidavits filed with the attorney general’s office, went by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan” online – must serve a minimum of 11 years.

 

[DaisyDay]

A Michigan federal judge sentenced a man convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to 16 years in prison Tuesday.

Prosecutors said that Adam Fox was the leader of a plot to kidnap the Democratic governor from her summer home in 2020.

A jury convicted Fox and an accomplice in August on charges of kidnapping conspiracy and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

Another person involved in the plot, Barry Croft, is set for sentencing Wednesday. Croft was a part of the plan with Fox and the others, and practiced detonating explosives in preparation, prosecutors said at the trial.

Additionally, earlier this month, three other men involved in the plot – Pete Musico, Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar – were all sentenced on charges of gang participation, support of a terrorist act and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the Michigan attorney general’s office.

Musico and Bellar must serve a minimum of 12 years and seven years, respectively. The alleged “commander” of the group, Morrison – who, according to affidavits filed with the attorney general’s office, went by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan” online – must serve a minimum of 11 years.

I'm not a big proponent of locking people up for the most part, but I am glad there is some public punishment so maybe these 'militia men' think twice before plotting to overthrow a government.

 

[essentialsaltes]

A Michigan federal judge sentenced a man convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to 16 years in prison Tuesday.

Another person involved in the plot, Barry Croft, is set for sentencing Wednesday. Croft was a part of the plan with Fox and the others, and practiced detonating explosives in preparation, prosecutors said at the trial.

Architect of Mich. governor kidnap plot sentenced to more than 19 years in prison​

Barry Croft Jr., 47, of Delaware was described by prosecutors in a federal courtroom in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday as the “spiritual leader” and “the ideas guy” of the plot, which was ultimately undone after a sting that involved informants and undercover FBI agents who embedded with the group of men drawn together by their association with the armed right-wing “Wolverine Watchmen” group.

A man who was convicted as one of the key orchestrators in the 2020 scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and blow up a bridge in hopes of inciting a civil war was sentenced Wednesday to 19½ years in prison, the longest sentence of the four men convicted on federal charges in the most closely watched domestic terrorism case in recent years.

Nils Kessler, a federal prosecutor, [arguing against the defense's call for clemency, said] that even more than his co-defendant, Croft embraced a “poisonous” ideology for which he still hasn’t shown remorse, highlighted by the fact that Croft has continued to give interviews from prison, and in one on Tuesday night called the government “illegitimate.”