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View: Mugshots for all 14 people charged after FBI uncovered plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer

12 Michigan residents among 14 people charged following alleged scheme

These are 10 of the 13 people who were charged after the FBI uncovered a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. TOP (left to right): Daniel Harris, Brandon Caserta, Adam Fox, Kaleb Franks, Ty Garbin. BOTTOM (left to right): Pete Musico, Eric Molitor, William Null, Michael Null, Joseph Morrison. (WDIV)

Federal and state officials have charged 14 people after uncovering a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the Michigan government, FBI agents said.

You can read about the specific details of the entire kidnapping operation here.

Through confidential informants and undercover agents, the FBI gained access to audio recordings, ground messages and secret meetings as the group plotted for months, according to court records.

Five Michigan residents -- Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta -- and Barry Croft, of Delaware, have been charged with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer.

You can view mugshots for the five Michiganders and Croft below.

Adam Fox (WDIV)
Ty Garbin (WDIV)
Kaleb Franks (WDIV)
Daniel Harris (WDIV)
Brandon Caserta (WDIV)
Barry Croft (WDIV)

7 men linked domestic terror group charged

Officers executed search warrants and arrest warrants in several Michigan locations, including Belleville, Cadillac, Canton, Charlotte, Clarkston, Grand Rapids, Luther, Munith, Orion Township, Ovid, Portage, Shelby Township and Waterford Township.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said 19 state felony charges were filed against seven people known to be members of the Wolverine Watchmen domestic terror group or associates of the group.

Paul Bellar, 21, of Milford, was charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, gang membership and a felony firearm violation.

Shawn Fix, 38, of Belleville; Eric Molitor, 36, of Cadillac; Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell; and William Null, 38, of Shelbyville, were each charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and a felony firearm violation.

Pete Musico, 42, and Joseph Morrison, 26, who live together in Munith, were each charged with threat of terrorism, gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts and a felony firearm violation.

Providing material support for terrorists acts, threat of terrorism and gang membership are each 20-year felonies. The felony firearm violations come with mandatory two-year prison sentences, to be served consecutively.

Michael Null, William Null and Molitor were arraigned Thursday before Antrim County Magistrate Jessica Allmand. The Nulls are being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, and Molitor is being held in lieu of $250,000 or 10%.

Probable cause conferences for all three are set for 1 p.m. Oct. 14, and preliminary examinations are scheduled for Oct. 21.

Musico and Morrison are expected to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Thursday in Jackson County.

Fix is in custody and is expected to be arraigned in Antrim County.

You can view mugshots for Bellar, Musico, Morrison, Molitor, Fix and the Nulls below.

Paul Bellar (WDIV)
Pete Musico (WDIV)
Joseph Morrison (WDIV)
Eric Molitor (WDIV)
Michael Null (WDIV)
William Null (WDIV)
Shawn Fix (WDIV)

Brian Higgins, 51, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, was charged Oct. 15 with material support of an act of terrorism, a 20-year felony. He became the 14th person charged in the case after court proceedings began for several of the other defendants.

Higgins is specifically accused of being part of the plan to kidnap Whitmer from her vacation home, according to the FBI.

Brian Higgins was charged after the FBI uncovered a domestic terror plot targeting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (WDIV)

Click here to read more about these 13 people and the charges they’re facing.

U.S. attorneys Andrew Birge and Matthew Schnieder, Michigan State Police Col. Joe Gasper and FBI assistant special agent in charge Josh Hauxhurst joined Nessel for the news conference.

You can watch Nessel’s full news conference below.


About the Author
Derick Hutchinson headshot

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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