Ringleader of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Dec 28, 2022, 02:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: NBC News

A man convicted of playing a key role in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison Wednesday, more than what was meted out to a co-defendant. A prosecutor called 47-year-old Barry Croft Jr. an American version of Omar Abdel-Rahman, "The Blind Sheikh” who masterminded the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Croft and co-defendant Adam Fox, 39, were convicted in August of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and to use a weapon of mass destruction to attack Whitmer, who drew the hatred of far-right groups for her efforts to curb the spread of Covid in 2020. Fox was sentenced to 192 months (16 years) in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker, setting the stage in a Grand Rapids courtroom for Croft's fate and sentence of 235 months.

While Jonker stopped short of issuing a life sentence sought by prosecutors, the judge largely agreed with the government's stance that Croft fueled the plot with dangerous rhetoric. The judge called Croft the "idea guy" who egged on co-conspirators with "wrong" and "twisted" ideology. “I do think of Mr. Croft as the more seriously culpable … more so than even Mr. Fox," Jonker said. “I think he was the person who gave Mr. Fox something to grab on to." 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said Croft needs to go away for an extended period of time to protect the public. “This man is thoroughly radicalized," Kessler said. "He hasn’t changed his viewpoint.”  Kessler said Croft was every bit as dangerous as a foreign terrorist seeking to harm Americans.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ringleader-michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-sentenced-19-rcna63399

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Article updated.

Original article -

A man convicted of playing a key role in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was sentenced to 19 1/2 years in prison Wednesday, more than what was meted out to a co-defendant.

Barry Croft Jr., 47, and co-defendant Adam Fox, 39, were convicted in August of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and to use a weapon of mass destruction to attack Whitmer, who drew the hatred of far-right groups for her efforts to curb the spread of Covid in 2020.

Fox was sentenced to 192 months in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker, setting the stage for Croft's fate and sentence of 235 months. “I do think of Mr. Croft as the more seriously culpable … more so than even Mr. Fox," Jonker said. “I think he was the person who gave Mr. Fox something to grab on to." 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said Croft needs to go away for an extended period of time to protect the public. “This man is thoroughly radicalized," Kessler said. "He hasn’t changed his viewpoint.” 

[ffr]

1. Keep moving up the chain, increasing the penalties, please

No matter how far up it goes for the criminals.

[Maraya1969]

2. Didn't this start out as an anti-vaccine or anti-mask thing? And will they be reuired

to get the vaccine in prison? (I did look it up but couldn't figure out if it is a requirement or what they do if a prisoner refuses)

[BigmanPigman]

25. I like your thinking.

[SheltieLover]

3. Kicking for visibility

[LiberalFighter]

4. I have no sympathy for his childhood. He had time to clean it up.

[calimary]

7. There is that.

There DEFINITELY is that.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

12. Lawyers doing their jobs, courts hear this all the time, sometimes it's relevant to sentence.

[Stuart G]

5. K and R...Thanks for posting..

[republianmushroom]

6. like it

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Bubye

[IronLionZion]

9. Good to see these people actually getting some punishment

instead of the usual excuses like mental illness

[Alexander Of Assyria]

11. Most have been amply punished after full trial and facts, but wait for it...the not enough crowd!

[3Hotdogs]

14. I'm in that crowd on this one. He is recognized as a danger to the public.

30 years at least.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

16. The sentencing hearing was days long...the judge a trained jurist with no bias I see.. so...why?

[IronLionZion]

15. Denial of white terrorism encourages more of it

and we are seeing lots more of it over the years

[Alexander Of Assyria]

17. 234 months prison is not denial to the prisoner, it's a great result!...after trial and conviction!

And yes, American racism is systemic and ingrained…needs a real shake up.

[IronLionZion]

20. Agreed

[Initech]

10. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

Bye, asshole!

[secondwind]

13. woot!!! good news!!!!

[NBachers]

18. Finally, some real consequences for American Terrorists

[Novara]

19. NOT ENOUGH

The guy has no remorse. He not only was the ringleader in a plot to kidnap a sitting governor, he intended to use a weapon of mass destruction while doing it.

He was up for life imprisonment. Think a Muslim convicted of the same shit would have gotten only 19.5 years?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

21. It's 234 months...in prison...longest sentence yet...it's enough to deter the next insurrectionists!

Young man will be a middle aged parolee for life when sees light of day! More than satisfactory, celebration!

[onetexan]

22. if he survives prison that is

[Alexander Of Assyria]

24. Not enough! 😆

[Sucha NastyWoman]

26. Ring leader

So yeah, not enough.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

27. Was being sarcastic ...see rest of thread...it's perfect sentence! Plenty enough to deter.

[Bengus81]

28. Agree...and those Trump Terrorists are get sentences that are laughable so far

[iluvtennis]

23. Awesome news! This shit has to stop. n/t