NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
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The final two remaining defendants related to the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were sentenced today by Judge Charles Hamlyn of the 13th Circuit Court in Antrim County, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Brian Higgins, of Wisconsin Dells, Wis., pleaded guilty on March 15, to one count of attempting to provide material support for terrorism. He was sentenced today to 36 months' probation with a credit for 217 days of jail time. Higgins was bound over for trial on his initial charge of providing material support for an act of terrorism.
Shawn Fix, of Belleville, pleaded guilty on June 7, to one count of providing material support for a terroristic act. He was sentenced today to 36-240 months with credit for 34 days served. Fix was bound over for trial on his original charges of providing material support for terroristic acts and felony firearm.
The attorney general charged 20 state felonies against eight individuals who were alleged to have engaged in the planning and training for an operation to attack the state Capitol building and kidnap government officials, including Whitmer. These charges were the result of a joint operation with the U.S. Attorneys of the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Michigan State Police.
“Violence is never the answer, and today’s sentencing ensures that these men will be held accountable for their attempts to harm the general public, members of law enforcement and the governor,” said Nessel. “I am grateful for the exemplary work of the investigators and prosecutors in my department, along with the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Michigan State Police.”
Five of the eight were convicted of crimes in support of the plot. In addition to the convictions of Higgins and Fix, three others were found guilty by a jury in a Jackson County trial and are currently incarcerated for their roles in the plot.
Joseph Morrison, of Munith, was found guilty in October 2022, and is serving consecutive sentences on the following counts:
- Count 1: Gang membership, 4-20 years;
- Count 2: Providing material support for terrorist acts, 4-20 years;
- Count 3: Carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony; two years.
Paul Bellar, of Milford, was found guilty in October 2022, and is serving concurrent sentences for counts one and two, and the third count will be served consecutively:
- Count 1: Gang membership, 5-20 years;
- Count 2: Providing material support for terrorist acts, 4-20 years;
- Count 3: Carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, two years.
Pete Musico, of Munith, was found guilty in October 2022, and is serving consecutive sentences on all counts:
- Count 1: Gang membership, 5-20 years;
- Count 2: Providing material support for terrorist acts, 5-20 years;
- Count 3: Carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony; two years.
Federal charges were also filed against six other individuals, four of whom were convicted. Two men, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr, were found guilty in August 2022, on federal charges of conspiring to kidnap and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. Croft was additionally found guilty of possession of an unregistered destructive device. Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks both pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and cooperated with prosecutors in the other federal trials. The remaining two defendants were found not guilty.
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