GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A leader of a Michigan militia admitted Wednesday, Jan. 27, that he conducted surveillance on the vacation home of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a plot to kidnap her.
Ty Garbin, 25, pleaded guilty to kidnap conspiracy, a potential life offense, in a hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker.
Sentencing is set for July 8.
Under a plea agreement, Garbin has to cooperate with investigators. In exchange, prosecutors will not file additional charges. Prosecutors would also seek to lessen his potential punishment for significant help in the investigation.
Garbin, represented by attorneys Mark Satawa and Gary Springstead, admitted in court that he joined others in September for night-time surveillance of the governor’s Northern Michigan home.
“I was (there), your honor,” he said.
Garbin is the first of six federal defendants to plead guilty to charges.
Others indicted on federal kidnapping-conspiracy charges are Brandon Caserta, 33, of Canton, Barry Croft Jr., 44, of Bear, Delaware, Adam Fox, 37, of Wyoming, Kaleb Franks, 26, of Waterford, and Daniel Harris, 23, of Lake Orion.
(Top left to right) Adam Fox, Barry Croft and Ty Garbin (Bottom left to right) Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Eight others await trial on state charges.
A life-long Michigan resident, Garbin lives in Livingston County’s Hartland Township. He earned his certificate for aircraft maintenance at a trade school, he told the judge.
He was an alleged leader of Wolverine Watchmen, a Michigan-based militia.
Earlier testimony showed that those allegedly involved had a strong interest in firearms and Second Amendment rights.
“I know firearms are an interest of yours,” the judge said, adding that he would be prohibited from possessing guns because of the felony conviction.
“I understand that, your honor.”
Garbin said he was involved in discussions about kidnapping the governor and took part in field training.
The talk included storming the state capitol, or kidnapping Whitmer from the governor’s Mackinac Island residence or her private Northern Michigan home, court records said.
The participants conducted tactical training, as well as combat first aid, including use of tourniquets, and treating burns, gunshots and shrapnel wounds in the event they were in a firefight with police, the plea agreement said.
Undercover FBI agents and confidential sources provided information throughout summer planning before arrests began in October.
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