(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/17/2022) An accused kidnap conspirator's 10-year-old daughter asked him: "Daddy, do you want a Dorito?"
"Honey, I'm making explosives. Can you get away from me, please? Thank you; I love you," Barry Croft Jr. laughed as did alleged conspirator Daniel Harris and others present, according to a FBI undercover officer's secret recording of the interaction in July 2020, which was played for a jury Thursday.
Croft, of Bear, Delaware, and Harris, of Lake Orion, are two of four men accused of conspiring to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both are also charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and possession of an unregistered destructive device, while Harris also faces a count alleging possessing of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
The trial is being heard before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids and it continues Friday with the agent's testimony. Jurors are also expected to hear Friday from the FBI informant known as "Dan."
FBI Special Agent Mark Schweers, who posed as Mark Woods, a similarly disgruntled person akin to alleged conspirator Adam Fox, testified today that he was present when Croft and Harris made an explosive with black power, BBs, a balloon, green coil and duct tape.
Schweers testified that he first spoke with Fox, of Potterville, on an encrypted message app after other agents learned Fox was plotting a violent attack against Michigan's government. He said he first met Fox in the basement of the "Vac Shack," a Grand Rapids-area business where Fox worked and lived.
Schweers said Fox was "excited" as he spoke about a "very covert" group called the Wolverine Watchmen, whom Fox described as not being well liked in Michigan, and about their "missions." During a conversation, Fox referred to Whitmer as an "oppressor" and "tyrant bitch."
"I want her charged; I want her f------ charged," Fox is heard saying in one recording. In another recording, Fox says, "I want to have the governor flex-cuffed on the table while we pose like we just made the biggest drug bust. … That's what we want. Lock her ass up, even if we have to go with her."
On cross examination, Fox's attorney, Christopher Gibbons, questioned whether his client was high during the Vac Shack meeting or other militia meetings and training exercises.
Schweers said Fox was not smoking marijuana at the basement meeting, but he acknowledged that Fox and others "socially" smoke marijuana at some meetings.
Croft's attorney, Joshua Blanchard, told the jury during opening arguments that his client was high on marijuana during the meetings when the alleged kidnapping was discussed and that it was "stoned crazy talk and not a plan."
Schweers also testified on cross-examination that Fox talked about how he was upset with the Legislature, which he wanted to take "by force, potentially killing officers." Fox also discussed taking legislators hostage and putting them on trial or "ransoming the Governor for legislators being held hostage," he said.
Morning testimony came from FBI Special Agent Christopher Long, who was assigned to monitor the confidential human source (CHS), Jennifer Plunk, who was assigned to record Croft.
Blanchard went back and forth with Long as he tried to get Long to call Plunk by name, but Long continually referred to her FBI number, CHS 99802, as protocol dictates.
Long testified that Croft's social media activity and communications included "very violent comments" and "direct threats to law enforcement," including burning "police officers out of their houses," putting them on public trial and hanging them in a neighborhood tree.
Long also testified that there was chatter about kicking Croft out of the group because he appeared more violent and ready for imminent action, but the FBI encouraged Plunk to keep Croft in the group.
"The issue was they were going to go off and do lone-wolf attacks," Long said, and the FBI was concerned about losing access to Croft if he left the group.
On cross-examination, Blanchard questioned Long about directing Plunk to keep Croft in the group when it is the FBI's goal to break up violent groups, but Long maintained that the group was not disbanding as the defense claimed. Rather, he said, the group simply wanted to kick Croft out.
Blanchard also tried to get Long to admit that he used "BH" in a text message with Plunk when referring to Croft and that "BH" meant bonehead. Long replied that his finger must have slipped, and he was not “trying to be arrogant or belittle” Croft.
Fox and fourth co-defendant Brandon Caserta, of Canton Township, are also charged with kidnap conspiracy. Fox also faces a charge of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
