TEXAS – Two young Texas men face federal charges after allegedly conspiring to launch an armed coup on a Haitian island, murder all male residents, and enslave women and children as “sex slaves,” according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.
Gavin Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, Texas, and Tanner Thomas, 20, of Argyle, Texas, were indicted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on charges that carry potential life imprisonment. The bizarre and disturbing plot targeted Gonave Island, Haiti, located approximately 30 miles northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Federal prosecutors detailed an elaborate scheme that began in August 2024, involving extensive research, reconnaissance, recruiting, and planning for what authorities describe as a violent takeover of the Caribbean island. The indictment states the conspirators’ goal was “to take military control of the Island of Gonave by murdering all the men on the island and capturing all the women.”
Court documents reveal both defendants took concrete steps to prepare for the operation. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 2025 specifically to gain military training for the planned assault. Weisenburg enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy in August 2024 but failed out nearly six months later.
The men’s preparation included taking Haitian Creole language training courses and conducting research on weapons, ammunition, and tactical operations. Prosecutors say Weisenburg traveled to Thailand to enroll in sailing school, with the intention of purchasing a sailboat capable of transporting firearms, ammunition, and explosives to Haiti.
The scheme also involved recruiting homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., to assist with the island overthrow, according to the indictment. Authorities did not disclose how they uncovered the plot or whether any potential recruits had been approached.
Both defendants face conspiracy charges for killing or kidnapping persons in a foreign country, which carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Each also faces one count of producing child pornography, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The connection between the island plot and the child pornography charges was not detailed in available court documents.
Attorneys for both Weisenburg and Thomas indicated their clients will plead not guilty to all charges. The case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying and stopping potential international crimes before they occur.
Haiti has been plagued by political instability, gang violence, and humanitarian crises in recent years, making it a vulnerable target for exploitation. Gonave Island, with a population of approximately 120,000 people, is one of Haiti’s largest offshore islands.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed whether additional suspects or co-conspirators are being sought. Both men are scheduled for arraignment in federal court, where they will formally enter their pleas.
