(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/15/22) An attorney for a Michigan man on trial for conspiring to kidnap the governor in summer 2020 tried Monday to get a FBI informant known as "Big Dan" to admit the defendants did not practice kidnapping the Governor.
The questions arguably backfired.
"Did anyone practice extracting a target from a room … or structure? Or practice kidnapping anybody?" attorney Christopher Gibbons, who is representing defendant Adam Fox, asked, referencing a "shoot house" the group used in summer 2020 to practice firearm training.
"We practiced going in and killing individuals," replied the witness, Dan Chappel.
That testimony came on day five of the second trial for Fox, of Potterville, and Barry Croft Jr., of Delaware, who are each charged with conspiracy to kidnap. Their first trial ended in a hung jury, while two co-defendants were acquitted.
The trial, being heard in U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker's Grand Rapids courtroom, is expected to last upwards of two more weeks.
Chappel, a post office contractor and Iraq war veteran, played a big part in the government's first trial as he did this go-round. He testified that he joined the militia group Wolverine Watchmen to maintain his firearm skills learned in the Army.
However, when Chappel learned the group planned to kill police officers, he told his friend – an officer, which led to his begrudging agreement to be a "confidential human source," (CHS) or undercover informant.
"I had no idea what these individuals were capable of," he testified. "They wanted to target and potentially kill law enforcement."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler walked Chappel through his reasoning for joining the group and why he reported the alleged plan to his friend. He also asked why Chappel agreed to be an informant, questioning if he did it for the money.
The FBI reimbursed Chapel for his stay in hotels and items he needed for the job, including a recording device to "monitor and record all the conversations that were taking place."
Chappel also got a new cell phone, a laptop and a watch that was designed to call for help if his position was compromised. These items, he testified, were "tools" to be an informant, and he did not agree to the role because of the money as it was suggested in the first trial.
Chappel said he also eventually had to move because he learned at least one Wolverine Watchmen member had his address and he feared for his child's safety. The government also compensated him for moving-related expenses.
Kessler asked Chappel what he understood his job as an informant to be. Chappel replied he was to maintain that he "was a like-minded individual" with the group, whom the FBI monitored.
"So pretend that you were a what?" Kessler asked.
"A domestic terrorist," Chappel answered.
