Alleged Plot to Seize Haitian Island and Enslave Inhabitants
Two American men from Dallas, Texas, are facing severe federal charges over what prosecutors describe as a depraved and murderous scheme to invade a Caribbean island. Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, are accused of conspiring to take over Gonâve Island in Haiti, murder its male population, and force women and children into sexual slavery.
Detailed Plans for a 'Homeless Army' and Coup d'État
According to the indictment unsealed in the United States, the pair allegedly devised a detailed strategy to execute their plan. This included raising a mercenary force by recruiting from the homeless population in Washington, D.C., and purchasing a boat and firearms. In a disturbing escalation, Tanner Christopher Thomas enlisted in the US Air Force in January, allegedly telling his co-accused in a social media message that he had joined the military specifically to gain training for their planned armed attack.
Federal prosecutors state that Thomas later changed his assignment to Andrews Air Base in Maryland, purportedly to be closer to the nation's capital to aid in recruiting homeless individuals. Meanwhile, Gavin Weisenburg reportedly enrolled in a fire academy near Dallas to acquire useful skills, though he ultimately failed out of the programme. He then travelled to Thailand with the intention of learning to sail, but never enrolled in lessons due to the cost.
Serious Charges and Potential Life Sentences
Both men were formally charged on Thursday, November 24, 2025. They face two primary counts: conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap persons in a foreign country, and production of child pornography. The latter charge stems from allegations that they persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
The potential penalties are severe. A conviction on the child pornography charge could result in up to 30 years imprisonment, while the conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Attorneys for both defendants have stated their clients will plead not guilty. John Helms, the attorney representing Thomas, claimed, "They never tried to do any of this," and expressed his belief that prosecutors would have difficulty proving the men genuinely intended to carry out the plot.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Gonâve Island, the alleged target, is situated roughly 38 miles off the coast of mainland Haiti and is home to approximately 87,000 residents.
