Here's What We Know About The Men Accused In Plot Against Whitmer

MICHIGAN — Details emerged Thursday about a plot to kidnap and potentially kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The plan was devised over months by a Michigan militia group calling itself the "Wolverine Watchmen," according to authorities.

Thirteen people were accused in the largescale plan, 12 of whom are Michigan residents and one who lived in Delaware.

Six men were charged Thursday by U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to federal charging documents unsealed Thursday. Felony charges were issued against seven more people by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Below is a breakdown of the 13 people accused in the plot, documenting their involvement in the plan based on information provided in state and federal documents acquired by Patch on Thursday.

These six people have been accused by the federal government in the plot against Whitmer:

Brandon Caserta of Canton

Caserta took part in field exercise trainings with other members, according to federal documents.

Caserta was among a group Fox assembled to kidnap the governor, according to documents.

In a conversation about attending an armed protest at the state Capitol building, Caserta was recorded telling group members, "When the time comes there will be no need to try and strike fear through presence. The fear will be manifested through bullets.”

Barry Croft of Delaware

Croft is the lone non-Michigan resident accused by authorities Thursday.

Along with another member of the militia group, Croft in July tried to construct an improvised explosive device using black powder, balloons, a fuse and BBs for shrapnel, according to federal documents. Despite multiple attempts at this, their explosive device was faulty and did not detonate as planned, according to documents.

At a Sept. 12 meeting in Luther, Michigan, Croft brought what he referred to as his "chemistry set," including the components for an IED, according to federal documents. The group detonated a homemade IED in an exercise, according to documents.

Croft was among a group to spy on the governor's vacation home, according to documents. Documents show that Croft suggested the surveillance mission turn into "an act of violence," but he was eventually dissuaded from the notion.

Croft and Fox discussed detonating explosive devices at the M-31 highway bridge as a way to divert police from the area of the governor's vacation home when they executed their plot, according to documents.

Adam Fox of Grand Rapids

Along with Croft, Fox was considered a leader of the militia effort, seeking to unite others in their cause and take violent action against multiple state governments, according to documents.

Fox told other members he planned to attack the Capitol and asked them to "combine forces," according to documents. At one point, documents show, he discussed needing "200 men" to storm the Capitol building in Lansing, taking hostages.

Some of the group's meetings were held at Fox's Grand Rapids business, with members meeting in the basement of the shop, which was accessed through a trap door hidden under a rug, according to documents. Fox would collect the members' cell phones, put them in a box and carry them upstairs to prevent any monitoring, but an informant wearing a wire was able to record their meetings, documents show.

The meetings were used to discuss their plot against Whitmer, countering law enforcement first responders and using "Molotov cocktails" against police vehicles, according to documents.

Fox recorded videos in a private Facebook group where he ranted about Whitmer being a tyrant and said "we gotta do something," according to documents.

On July 27, Fox and an informant discussed a "snatch and grab" plan to kidnap the governor when she was arriving at or leaving her personal vacation home, documents show.

Kaleb Franks of Waterford

Franks participated in trainings with other group members. On June 28, after members were told not to stay at the Munith residence unless they were OK with participating in attacks against the government, Franks left, documents show. But officials said it does not appear his departure is related to his commitment to the conspiracy.

Franks brought a rifle with a silencer to one of the groups' exercises in Wisconsin, documents show. He would later spend almost $4,000 on a helmet and night vision goggles, documents show.

Documents show that Franks told an informant he was "in for anything as long as its well planned," regarding the plan.

Ty Garbin of Hartland Township

Garbin was a consistent attendee of meetings and trainings with other members, documents show. He was among a group that discussed attacking a Michigan State Police facility and then suggested "shooting up" the governor's vacation home, according to federal documents.

Garbin offered to paint his personal boat black in order to hide it more effectively if the group were to spy on the governor's vacation home from the water, documents show.

Daniel Harris of Lake Orion

Harris attended meetings and trainings with the group and, at one point, suggested the group "have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her," according to federal documents, referring to Whitmer.

Below are the seven people facing felony state charges filed by the Michigan Attorney General's office:

Paul Bellar of Milford

Bellar, 21, is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Bellar was appointed the role of "sergeant," had specific expertise in medical and firearms training and designed tactical exercises for training, according to an affidavit. Bellar provided plans for tactical maneuvers at trainings, coded language for covert communication, hosted meetings at his residence, provided ammunition and coordinated logistics for trainings, according to an affidavit.

Shawn Fix of Belleville

Fix, 38, is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Fix, is one of four people accused of surveilling the governor's private vacation home, according to affidavit. He also provided attended tactical trainings, hosted a meeting and contributed to planning the plot.

Eric Molitor of Cadillac

Molitor, 36, is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Molitor helped surveil the governor's private vacation home, according to an affidavit. Molitor, along with others, spied on the governor's vacation home on Aug. 29, the affidavit shows. He used his cell phone to find the location and took photographs, according to the affidavit. He further discussed with others about conducting surveillance from water at a later date, according to the documents.

Michael Null of Plainwell

Null, 38, is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Null spied on the governor's private vacation home, according to an affidavit. Null provided assistance for a nighttime physical surveillance operation of the Governor’s vacation home by acting as lookouts for Adam Fox and other participants, according to documents.

William Null of Shelbyville

Null, 38, is charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Just as Michael Null is accused of, Null spied on the governor's private vacation home, according to an affidavit. Null provided assistance for a nighttime physical surveillance operation of the Governor’s vacation home by acting as lookouts for Adam Fox and other participants, according to documents.

Pete Musico and Joseph Morrison of Munith

Musico, 42, and Morrison, 26, are charged with threat of terrorism, gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Morrison and Musico are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen, according to an affidavit. Morrison is considered Wolverine Watchmen’s “Commander” and is known by the online moniker “Boogaloo Bunyan," according to documents.

Many of the group's tactical exercises were held at Morrison and Musico's Jackson County home, according to an affidavit. During these
trainings, specific training was provided for members to learn and practice tactical maneuvers, officials allege.

Read More:

• Michigan Militia Members Accused In Plot To Kidnap, Kill Whitmer
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