MI Judge Hands Down Final Sentences In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot

MICHIGAN — The final two sentences in the Whitmer Kidnapping Plot were handed down by a Michigan judge Thursday.

Brian Higgins, of Wisconsin Dells, WI, was sentenced to 36 months' probation with a credit for 217 days of jail time. He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support for terrorism in March.

Shawn Fix, of Belleville, was sentenced to 36 to 240 months, with credit for 34 days served. He pleaded guilty to one count of providing material support for a terroristic act in June.

Although neither man was a key figure in the investigation, prosecutors said Higgins went on a night ride to scout Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan with a camera rigged to his pickup truck.

Prosecutors said Fix helped leader Adam Fox identify Whitmer's address during an earlier drive, as well as participating in militia-style drills and hosted a key meeting of allies at his home.

Prosecutors charged 14 people in connection to the plot. Nine people were convicted by a jury, including Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., whom prosecutors identified as leaders of the group. They were sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Three other men, Pete Musico, Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar, were all sentenced on charges of gang participation, support of a terrorist act and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection to the plot.

Musico and Bellar must serve a minimum of 12 years and seven years in prison, Morrison, whom officials said by the online moniker "Boogaloo Bunyan" online – must serve a minimum of 11 years in prison.

Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks both pled guilty to conspiracy charges and cooperated with prosecutors in the other federal trials. Garbin's sentence was reduced from an initial six years to 30 months last September, while Franks is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.

Brandon Caserta, Daniel Harris, Eric Molitor, William Null and twin brother Michael Null were acquitted on charges in connection to the plot.

The group of men intended to kidnap Whitmer from her cottage near Elk Rapids and use weapons of mass destruction to blow up a bridge to hinder responding police, according to prosecutors.

They planned the kidnapping plot out of frustrations to the COVID-19 restrictions Whitmer had put in place during the early months of the pandemic, prosecutors said.

Informants and undercover FBI agents were inside the group for months before arrests were made in October 2020. Whitmer was not physically harmed.

"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," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said.