North Texas Men Allegedly Planned Takeover of Island in Haiti

According to the U.S. Justice Department, two young men from North Texas are facing charges for their involvement in a violent scheme to seize control of Gonave Island, which is part of Haiti.

Gavin Weisenburg, aged 21, from Allen, and 20-year-old Tanner Thomas, from Argyle, along with others, allegedly conspired to kill every man on the island and enslave women and children, turning them into what they called 'sex slaves.' This information was disclosed via an indictment filed on Thursday by the Eastern District of Texas.

Alleged Conspiracy and Intended Actions

The indictment suggests the conspirators engaged in detailed planning, which included gathering intelligence, scouting, recruiting, and attempting to receive specialized training. Their ultimate goal was to achieve military domination of Gonave Island by exterminating its adult male population and subjugating its female and child residents.

Facing serious charges, the duo could spend their lives behind bars if found guilty of planning acts of violence or kidnapping in another nation. Additionally, there is a child pornography charge, which alone could lead to a 30-year imprisonment.

Legal Defense Claims

In response, Weisenburg's legal representative, David Finn, stressed that despite the accuracy of some government assertions, they could be misleading. Finn affirmed his client's intent to plead not guilty. Similarly, John Helms, Thomas's attorney, stated that his client intends to robustly challenge these accusations in court.

Connections to Military and Failed Training Attempts

Federal investigators assert that Thomas’s enrollment in the U.S. Air Force in 2025 was part of a strategy to acquire the combat training needed for their proposed armed takeover. Weisenburg's attempt to gain relevant skills was through enrollment in a Texas fire academy, although he did not complete the program.

Prosecutors further allege the accused planned to utilize homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., as recruits for their coup. This strategy included Thomas altering his military training location to better facilitate this recruitment effort.

Preparation for Armed Assault on Gonave Island

Commencing their planning in August 2024, the accused used social media for communication and researched both the Haitian Creole language and various armaments, such as military-style guns. They intended to transport weapons to Haiti via a sailboat, with Weisenburg allegedly seeking sailing lessons in Thailand to aid their mission.

Gonave Island, approximately 30 miles from Port-au-Prince, houses around 87,000 residents, as per prosecutors' submissions.