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

[JerseyGirl]

Trial in Michigan Gov. Whitmer plot focuses on entrapment

 

[MrsWatson]

‘I will fire the first shot’: New information comes out in trial for men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer

The first witness in the trial, FBI agent Todd Ronick, said the FBI was tipped off that the men were talking about planning the kidnapping. The FBI then started gathering information from confidential informants who infiltrated the group. Defense attorneys pointed out that some of the informants have criminal records.

 

[MrsWatson]

Agent: FBI used drones, key fobs to spy on Whitmer kidnap suspects

The FBI used key fobs, drones and live pole cameras to spy on the suspects accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, an FBI agent testified Thursday, noting the government was worried the men had access to unidentifiable bomb suppliers.

That's one of the key reasons the FBI arrested the suspects in a sting in October 2020, said the agent, who offered details about what went down that day.

The prosecution has scoffed at the entrapment claims, saying all the men were willing participants who plotted to harm the governor long before the FBI got involved. And, it says, it has two key witnesses to prove that: two co-defendants who pleaded guilty and will testify against the group at trial.

Those men, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, have said no one was forced into doing anything.

 

[MrsWatson]

Whitmer kidnap testimony shows plot existed before FBI got involved

 

[MrsWatson]

Feds reveal secret FBI recordings in Whitmer kidnap conspiracy trial

Adam Fox, an accused ringleader of a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, posted online about being ready for a second Civil War months before first meeting federal informants, an FBI agent testified Thursday.

The case is considered one of the country's most important prosecutions involving alleged domestic terrorism and violent extremism...

 

[Niner]

Update for Thursday, March 10th - trial continues on Monday, March 14th:

*Trial continues (Day 2) (Federal case) (@ 10am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (39) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44/now 45) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Daniel Joseph Harris (23/now 24) (born 1997) of Lake Orion & *Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta (32/now 33) (born 1988) of Canton arrested & charged (10/8/20) & indicted (12/17/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime. All are being held without bond. All plead not guilty (12/17/20).
*Adam Dean Fox additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.
*Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
*Daniel Joseph Harris additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
Trial began on 3/8/22 with jury selection & trial began on 3/9/22. (expected to last 4-5 weeks).
Criminal Complaint & court info from 10/9/20 thru 3/3/22 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/8/22) & Trial Day 1 (3/9/22) reference post #460 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
3/10/22 Thursday, Trial Day 2: Government witnesses: FBI agent Todd Ronick. Said the FBI was tipped off that the men were talking about planning the kidnapping. The FBI then started gathering information from confidential informants who infiltrated the group. Defense attorneys pointed out that some of the informants have criminal records. Prosecutors played recordings of Fox. In the recordings he called Whitmer a tyrant & said he wanted to start a second civil war. Also played recordings of Croft.
FBI Special Agent Christopher Long. The FBI used key fobs, drones & live pole cameras to spy on the suspects accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, noting the government was worried the men had access to unidentifiable bomb suppliers.
Special FBI agent Todd Reineck. Testified that Adam Fox took to Facebook months before meeting federal informants & vented in a video about the government & being ready for a second Civil War.
for more info see article in posts #463 & 464 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
Trial testimony continues Monday, 3/14/22.
*Ty Gerard Garbin (24) - plead guilty (1/27/21) to kidnapping conspiracy & was sentenced (8/25/21) to 6 years & 3 months in Federal prison. Garbin will testify at the trial of the other defendants. Lengthy testimony & repeated debriefings have been critical in building a case to counter defense arguments that revolve around free speech issues as well as accusations of entrapment by federal undercover informants, Nils R. Kessler, the lead U.S. attorney on the case.
Kaleb James Franks (26) – Plead guilty (2/7/22) to kidnapping conspiracy. Will testify at trial & will be sentencing afterwards.
(State: for Antrim County on 4/14/21 & Jackson County on 8/8/22 & trial starts 9/12/22).

 

[MrsWatson]

https://www.fox17online.com/news/go...Trial: Governor Kidnapping Plot Full Coverage

 

[sds71]

Update for Thursday, March 10th - trial continues on Monday, March 14th:

*Trial continues (Day 2) (Federal case) (@ 10am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (39) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44/now 45) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Daniel Joseph Harris (23/now 24) (born 1997) of Lake Orion & *Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta (32/now 33) (born 1988) of Canton arrested & charged (10/8/20) & indicted (12/17/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime. All are being held without bond. All plead not guilty (12/17/20).
*Adam Dean Fox additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.
*Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
*Daniel Joseph Harris additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
Trial began on 3/8/22 with jury selection & trial began on 3/9/22. (expected to last 4-5 weeks).
Criminal Complaint & court info from 10/9/20 thru 3/3/22 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/8/22) & Trial Day 1 (3/9/22) reference post #460 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
3/10/22 Thursday, Trial Day 2: Government witnesses: FBI agent Todd Ronick. Said the FBI was tipped off that the men were talking about planning the kidnapping. The FBI then started gathering information from confidential informants who infiltrated the group. Defense attorneys pointed out that some of the informants have criminal records. Prosecutors played recordings of Fox. In the recordings he called Whitmer a tyrant & said he wanted to start a second civil war. Also played recordings of Croft.
FBI Special Agent Christopher Long. The FBI used key fobs, drones & live pole cameras to spy on the suspects accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, noting the government was worried the men had access to unidentifiable bomb suppliers.
Special FBI agent Todd Reineck. Testified that Adam Fox took to Facebook months before meeting federal informants & vented in a video about the government & being ready for a second Civil War.
for more info see article in posts #463 & 464 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
Trial testimony continues Monday, 3/14/22.
*Ty Gerard Garbin (24) - plead guilty (1/27/21) to kidnapping conspiracy & was sentenced (8/25/21) to 6 years & 3 months in Federal prison. Garbin will testify at the trial of the other defendants. Lengthy testimony & repeated debriefings have been critical in building a case to counter defense arguments that revolve around free speech issues as well as accusations of entrapment by federal undercover informants, Nils R. Kessler, the lead U.S. attorney on the case.
Kaleb James Franks (26) – Plead guilty (2/7/22) to kidnapping conspiracy. Will testify at trial & will be sentencing afterwards.
(State: for Antrim County on 4/14/21 & Jackson County on 8/8/22 & trial starts 9/12/22).

A key participant in the trial of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the judge to halt one of the nation's most important cases of alleged extremism.

Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker postponed the trial in federal court in Grand Rapids until at least Thursday, according to an order filed in federal court Sunday afternoon.


Whitmer kidnap trial postponed amid COVID-19 exposure

 

[Niner]

Thank you for the update @sds71 !

 

[JerseyGirl]

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/arti...g-for-4-men-accused-of-michigan-governor-plot


Trial Resuming for 4 Men Accused of Michigan Governor Plot
The trial of four men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will resume Thursday after a three-day break because of a COVID-19 case.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (Federal case) (@ 10am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (39) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44/now 45) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Daniel Joseph Harris (23/now 24) (born 1997) of Lake Orion & *Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta (32/now 33) (born 1988) of Canton arrested & charged (10/8/20) & indicted (12/17/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime. All are being held without bond. All plead not guilty (12/17/20).
*Adam Dean Fox additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.
*Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
*Daniel Joseph Harris additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
Trial began on 3/8/22 with jury selection & trial began on 3/9/22. (expected to last 4-5 weeks).
Criminal Complaint & court info from 10/9/20 thru 3/3/22 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/8/22) & Trial Day 1-2 (3/9/22 to 3/10/22) reference post #466 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
3/13/22 Update: A key participant in the trial of four men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the judge to halt one of the nation's most important cases of alleged extremism. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker postponed the trial in federal court in Grand Rapids until at least Thursday, 3/17/22, according to an order filed in federal court on Sunday afternoon. The judge's order does not identify who tested positive for COVID-19 and instead refers to an "essential trial participant." Jurors have heard two days of testimony in a trial that is projected to last as long as six weeks.
*Ty Gerard Garbin (24) - plead guilty (1/27/21) to kidnapping conspiracy & was sentenced (8/25/21) to 6 years & 3 months in Federal prison. Garbin will testify at the trial of the other defendants. Lengthy testimony & repeated debriefings have been critical in building a case to counter defense arguments that revolve around free speech issues as well as accusations of entrapment by federal undercover informants, Nils R. Kessler, the lead U.S. attorney on the case.
Kaleb James Franks (26) – Plead guilty (2/7/22) to kidnapping conspiracy. Will testify at trial & will be sentencing afterwards.
(State: for Antrim County on 4/14/21 & Jackson County on 8/8/22 & trial starts 9/12/22).

 

[MrsWatson]

‘I want to hurt people’: Recordings played in Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot trial

snippets

Barry Croft is accused of being the plot’s ringleader.

“I am going to terrorize. We are all terrorists,” Croft said. “I am ready to level buildings and burn houses down.”

The defense argued that the talk of kidnapping Whitmer was just talk.

 

[MrsWatson]

I know there is an awful lot going on in the world right now, but I'm a bit surprised that this trial isn't getting more coverage. It's a pretty significant prosecution.

Of course, it's federal and they don't allow live tweets but still, not the amount of coverage I would think this would merit. These guys wanted to kidnap a sitting governor!!

I also find it a bit strange that the trial was moved from the federal court in Detroit to the federal court in GR, which is much much more conservative. MOO

 

[MrsWatson]

https://www.fox17online.com/news/go...Trial: Governor Kidnapping Plot Full Coverage

 

[JerseyGirl]

Whitmer kidnap trial: Undercover FBI agent testifies, recordings heard

FBI: Accused wanted 'tyrant' Gov. Whitmer tied up on table

 

[Niner]

Friday, March 18th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (Federal case) (@ 10am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (39) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44/now 45) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Daniel Joseph Harris (23/now 24) (born 1997) of Lake Orion & *Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta (32/now 33) (born 1988) of Canton arrested & charged (10/8/20) & indicted (12/17/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime. All are being held without bond. All plead not guilty (12/17/20).
*Adam Dean Fox additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.
*Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
*Daniel Joseph Harris additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
Trial began on 3/8/22 with jury selection & trial began on 3/9/22. (expected to last 4-5 weeks). 12 jurors & 6 alternates. 3/17/22: 1 juror missing, replaced by alternate. 12 Jurors & 5 alternates.
Criminal Complaint & court info from 10/9/20 thru 3/13/22 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/8/22) & Trial Day 1-2 (3/9/22 to 3/10/22) reference post #471 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
3/17/22 Thursday, Trial Day 3: Testimony was delayed briefly while the court tried to contact missing juror #162. One of the six alternate jurors, #43, stepped in to fill the vacancy.
Government witnesses: FBI Special Agent Christopher Long, who was in charge of monitoring suspect Barry Croft before his arrest. FBI Special Agent Mark Schweers, who went by the pseudonym Mark Woods while in contact with defendant Adam Fox. Secret recordings were played.
for more info see post #474 & 475 (articles) here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
Trial continues on 3/18/22.
*Ty Gerard Garbin (24) - plead guilty (1/27/21) to kidnapping conspiracy & was sentenced (8/25/21) to 6 years & 3 months in Federal prison. Garbin will testify at the trial of the other defendants. Lengthy testimony & repeated debriefings have been critical in building a case to counter defense arguments that revolve around free speech issues as well as accusations of entrapment by federal undercover informants, Nils R. Kessler, the lead U.S. attorney on the case.
Kaleb James Franks (26) – Plead guilty (2/7/22) to kidnapping conspiracy. Will testify at trial & will be sentencing afterwards.
(State: for Antrim County on 4/14/21 & Jackson County on 8/8/22 & trial starts 9/12/22).

 

[MrsWatson]

https://www.fox17online.com/news/go...imony-resumes-on-day-5-of-governor-plot-trial

The FBI used nearly a dozen confidential informants in their investigation. Chapel says at one point, on a surveillance mission of the governor’s home, defendant Barry Croft was unknowingly in a car with Chapel and two other FBI agents.

Brandon Caserta, one of the four defendants, wanted to take out pro-vaccine doctors and lawyers; wanted to rob trucks transporting vaccine doses, and expressed interest in locating contact tracing facilities and killing employees.

Defense attorneys aren’t arguing their clients said these things. Instead, they’re trying to prove the words were simply “tough talk,” as Adam Fox attorney Christopher Gibbons put it in his opening argument.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Recordings played at Whitmer kidnapping plot trial: ‘If we can’t have our world, they can’t have theirs’

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 21st:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (Federal case) (@ 10am CT) - MI – Plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - *Adam Dean Fox (38/now 39) (born 1983) of Grand Rapids, *Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. (44/now 45) (no birth date given) from Bear, Delaware (waiting to be extradited to MI), *Daniel Joseph Harris (23/now 24) (born 1997) of Lake Orion & *Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta (32/now 33) (born 1988) of Canton arrested & charged (10/8/20) & indicted (12/17/20) with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. All charged with a federal crime. All are being held without bond. All plead not guilty (12/17/20).
*Adam Dean Fox additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.
*Barry Gordon Croft, Jr. additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
*Daniel Joseph Harris additional charges (4/28/21) with knowingly conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in addition to the kidnapping conspiracy charged in October 2020. The superseding indictment further alleges that Fox, Croft & Harris intended to use the devices to destroy a nearby bridge, in effect, harming & hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers & superseding indictment also alleges that on Sept. 13, 2020 in Lake County, Michigan, Croft & Harris knowingly possessed a destructive device that was not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record as required by federal law. Harris is alleged to have possessed, between July 10, 2020 & Sept. 13, 2020, an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, .223/5.56 mm caliber semiautomatic assault rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length that was not registered to him.
Trial began on 3/8/22 with jury selection & trial began on 3/9/22. (expected to last 4-5 weeks). 12 jurors & 6 alternates. 3/17/22: 1 juror missing, replaced by alternate. 12 Jurors & 5 alternates.
Criminal Complaint & court info from 10/9/20 thru 3/13/22 & Jury Selection Day 1 (3/8/22) & Trial Day 1-3 (3/9/22 to 3/17/22) reference post #476 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
3/18/22 Friday, Trial Day 4: Government witnesses: FBI Special Agent Mark Schweers, who went by the pseudonym Mark Woods while in contact with defendant Fox continued testifying. Secret recordings were played. Dan "Big Dan" Chapel, informant. Messages & recordings of the members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia were played for the jury.
for more info see articles post #477 & 478 here:
MI - 14 men charged in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oct 2020 *2 guilty*
Trial continues on Monday, 3/21/22.
*Ty Gerard Garbin (24) - plead guilty (1/27/21) to kidnapping conspiracy & was sentenced (8/25/21) to 6 years & 3 months in Federal prison. Garbin will testify at the trial of the other defendants. Lengthy testimony & repeated debriefings have been critical in building a case to counter defense arguments that revolve around free speech issues as well as accusations of entrapment by federal undercover informants, Nils R. Kessler, the lead U.S. attorney on the case.
Kaleb James Franks (26) – Plead guilty (2/7/22) to kidnapping conspiracy. Will testify at trial & will be sentencing afterwards.
(State: for Antrim County on 4/14/21 & Jackson County on 8/8/22 & trial starts 9/12/22).

 

[MrsWatson]

Informant back for testimony in Michigan governor plot trial

An FBI informant who made hours of secret recordings faces cross-examination by defense lawyers Monday after telling jurors that four men wanted to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer before the fall 2020 election.

Dan Chappel testified for the government Friday, explaining how months of training and scheming led to a road trip to Whitmer's vacation home in northern Michigan to see how the group could pull off an abduction.