GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (CN) — The trial against four men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer continued Wednesday morning with testimony from a former militia member who turned into a government witness.
Ty Garbin, 25, of Hartland Township, was the first from the initial group of six defendants to plead guilty in January 2021. He was sentenced in August to more than six years in prison and agreed to testify against four others: Adam Fox, 40, of Wyoming, Michigan; Barry Croft Jr., 45, of Bear, Delaware; Daniel Joseph Harris, 23, of Lake Orion, Michigan; and Brandon Caserta, 32, of Canton Township, Michigan.
Taking the stand Wednesday in Grand Rapids federal court, Garbin detailed how the group rehearsed by building a “shoot house” that would simulate the inside of Whitmer’s vacation home. He said the men trained for first aid with the expectation they would suffer combat wounds from a police response.
He said the group decided storming the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing was not feasible and instead chose to focus on Whitmer’s personal homes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Roth asked Garbin to describe what “boogaloo” meant.
“The boogaloo is a movement that consists of multiple political ideologies…the foundation of it is basically we need a second civil war, another revolution,” Garbin responded.
He added, “The plan was for us to basically be…the ignition to it and hopefully other states and other groups follow suit."
Garbin said Croft suggested the group perform a series of robberies to raise cash for the plan. Croft allegedly wanted to launch a preemptive assault on the state police so they could not respond quickly.
“He wanted to attack that facility, firebomb it and destroy as many police cars as possible,” Garbin said.
He detailed more preparation for the plot which included building a firing range on his property using tires filled with sand. He said the purpose of the range was to sharpen the group's shooting skills.
Garbin said that Harris was determined to kill Whitmer at any cost and described bloody scenarios with a “blank” face devoid of emotion.
“It was suicidal…someone, or a group of people to go kill her and then go kill themselves afterwards,” he said.
While Garbin was on the stand, jurors heard a recording of Caserta coldly discussing fighting government officials that echoed what the witness said about Harris.
“I’m taking out as many of those motherfuckers as I can. Every single one. And if you guys are going to give any of these motherfuckers a chance, any of these gang, fucking criminal ass, government thugs that rob people every day, if you are going to give them even a second to try and speak or tell their story? Don’t even fuck with me dude,” Caserta allegedly said on the recording.
Christopher Gibbons of Gibbons & Boer, representing Fox, got Garbin to admit under cross-examination that Fox was never a member of the Wolverine Watchmen militia, did not attend every single meeting and never hosted a training session for the group.
Garbin agreed with Gibbons that Fox lived in “squalor” in a bedroom with blankets hanging from the ceiling. Gibbons then asked Garbin how Fox fared in the tactical training sessions.
“His skills were not top notch,” he answered.
Gibbons made a point to highlight Garbin’s cooperation with the federal government and how he avoided further charges as a result.
Last week, jurors heard from an FBI agent who secretly recorded conversations with the accused. The Detroit Free Press reported the agent testified that he watched as Croft and Harris attempted to detonate homemade explosive devices.
"Honey, I’m making explosives, can you get away from me please?" Croft was allegedly recorded telling his daughter as he worked on a bomb.
Jurors also heard recordings of Fox as he laid out a fantasy where the group captures Governor Whitmer, a Democrat who imposed restrictions at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We just want the bitch, we want the tyrant bitch," he allegedly said. "I want to have the governor hog-tied, laid out on a table while we all pose around like we just made the world's biggest goddamn drug bust, bro."
In his opening statement two weeks ago, Roth said the group was mad over the coronavirus lockdown implemented by Whitmer but their anger was already simmering against politicians in general. The prosecutor said the influence of the boogaloo militia movement, in which Croft was recognized as a national figure, was intertwined in the plot against Whitmer.
Gibbons, representing Fox, countered that the federal government went to great lengths to make his client look “nefarious.”
“There was no plan. There was no conspiracy,” he said.
Croft's attorney Joshua Blanchard said that his client was critical of government officials, but it often bordered on nonsensical.
“They should have known it was crazy stoned talk,” he said.
The sixth defendant, Kaleb Franks of Waterford, Michigan, pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy during a hearing on Feb. 9. He will also be used by prosecutors to counter claims the group was entrapped by the undercover agents. Franks could still face up to life in prison when he is sentenced but is expected to receive a lighter punishment.
When Whitmer locked down the state in April 2020 to slow the spread of Covid-19, right-wing activists — including some carrying assault rifles — descended on the Michigan Capitol soon after to protest her stay-at-home order in a scene that presaged the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Fox, Croft, Harris and Caserta each face up to life in prison if convicted of kidnapping conspiracy charges. Fox, Croft and Harris could also get a separate life sentence if convicted of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. In addition, Croft and Harris each face up to 10 years in prison if they're found guilty of possession of an unregistered destructive device. Harris could further be sentenced to a decade behind bars if convicted for possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle.
The trial is expected to last another two to three weeks. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker, a George W. Bush appointee, is presiding.
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