Lansing, Michigan - Two men who were convicted of being the leaders of a plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer and carry out an uprising have been sentenced to lengthy prison time.

Federal prison sentences were handed down to Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., two leaders of a group of at least 14 arrested men who planned to capture the Democratic governor and incite riots and violence across the country.

On Tuesday, Judge Robert Jonker reportedly handed down a 16-year prison sentence to Fox (39).

Prosecutors sought to prove that Fox was the leader of the plot, arguing that he was the "driving force urging their recruits to take up arms, kidnap the governor, and kill those who stood in their way."

Judge Jonker said during the sentencing, "I see nothing in the record... nothing that makes me think he’s a natural leader and nothing that makes me think he’s the kind of person that anybody involved in this group was naturally going to follow."

On Wednesday, Judge Jonker also sentenced the fourth and final conspirator charged federally, Croft Jr. (47), to 19 years in jail, the longest term issued in the scheme yet, according to the AP. Croft was also charged with possession of an unregistered explosive.

The judge referred to Croft as "the idea guy," also describing him as "a very convincing communicator."

The two men were at the head of a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer at her vacation home in 2019 due to their anger over coronavirus mandates set in place by her and other state officials. The FBI infiltrated the group and followed them on social media, resulting in their arrests.

Both Fox and Croft Jr were convicted on conspiracy charges in August. Federal prosecutors had been seeking domestic terrorism charges with life sentences for each.

US Attorney Nils Kessler argued that "they wanted a second Civil War or a revolution," and that their radicalization will persist if they are ever freed.

"The problem is this defendant [Fox], he's going to go into jail and probably emerge more radicalized than when he went in and will remain a danger to the public, your honor," Kessler explained.

Yet, the two both dodged life sentences.

Governor Whitmer has not spoken publicly about the sentencing, but in August she said the convictions proved "those who seek to divide us will be held accountable," and called the plot an "extension of radicalized domestic terrorism."