A federal grand jury alleges the pair sought to kill the island’s men and enslave women and children as part of an organized coup plan.
PLANO, Texas — Two North Texas men were indicted Thursday in a case alleging they plotted to invade a Haitian island, murder its male residents and enslave women and children, according to federal prosecutors. The indictment outlines a plan to recruit a small force, acquire weapons and stage a coup on Gonâve Island.
Authorities say the case matters now because the alleged planning stretched across months and involved steps to gain military and sailing skills, buy a boat and recruit people to act as an armed unit. The men, identified as Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, of Argyle, face counts of conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country and production of child pornography. The investigation is being led by the FBI with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and local police. If convicted, the conspiracy charge carries up to life in prison, while the pornography charge carries a minimum of 15 years.
Prosecutors said the alleged scheme ran between August 2024 and July 2025. During that period, the pair researched a takeover of Gonâve Island, located west of Port-au-Prince. Investigators say the men planned to purchase a sailboat, firearms and ammunition, and then recruit people to act as a mercenary force. According to the indictment, they discussed targeting all adult males for killing and using women and children as sex slaves after a coup. U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced the charges, calling the plot “an international murder and kidnapping scheme.” The men allegedly studied Haitian Creole and drew up operational and logistical steps to reach the island and maintain control.
Officials said Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the planning window to obtain relevant training. Weisenburg, investigators allege, looked into other skills, including sailing. The indictment further claims the men discussed recruiting from the homeless population in the Washington, D.C., area to fill out their force, while they sought a boat and tried to identify sources for weapons. A separate count accuses both of producing child pornography, based on material authorities say they recovered during the probe. Court documents do not list a trial date, and prosecutors did not identify any additional suspects beyond those named in the charging papers. The number of potential recruits remains unclear.
Gonâve Island is home to tens of thousands of people and sits in the Gulf of Gonâve off Haiti’s main island. Haiti has faced political turmoil and gang violence, conditions that outside actors have occasionally tried to exploit. U.S. authorities said the case is not tied to any recognized political movement and described the plan as self-directed. Past prosecutions have targeted Americans who schemed to export weapons or engage in violence abroad, but officials said this indictment is unusual in its alleged aim to topple local control of a foreign territory and commit mass violence against civilians.
After the grand jury returned the indictment in the Eastern District of Texas, the case was assigned to federal prosecutors in the Plano division. The defendants will be scheduled for initial appearances and arraignments, where they are expected to enter pleas. Prosecutors said discovery will include digital messages, planning documents and training records. If the case proceeds, a detention hearing could set conditions on whether the defendants remain in custody. Additional charges could be considered if new evidence emerges, but officials did not announce further counts Thursday.
Neighbors and local officials in North Texas said they were disturbed by the allegations. A law enforcement spokesperson said investigators are reviewing whether anyone else materially advanced the plan. “The scope of what was discussed is shocking,” the spokesperson said. Residents of Allen and Argyle described a mix of disbelief and anger as news of the indictment spread. Advocates for Haitian communities in the U.S. called the alleged plot dehumanizing and said the charges underscore the need to counter extremist fantasies with swift prosecution.
The men remain presumed innocent under U.S. law. A federal magistrate will set the next hearing date; prosecutors said additional filings could come next week. Authorities said they will release more information as court proceedings move forward.
Author note: Last updated November 21, 2025.