Federal prosecutors have unveiled shocking details of a disturbing conspiracy involving two Texas men who allegedly planned to invade a small Haitian island with the intention of killing all male residents and turning women and children into sex slaves.
The Disturbing Conspiracy Unveiled
Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20 face serious federal charges for their alleged plot to carry out what prosecutors describe as their rape fantasies on Gonave Island in Haiti. The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced the indictment on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
According to court documents, the two accused men devised a comprehensive plan that involved purchasing a sailboat, firearms, and ammunition. Their strategy included recruiting homeless people from Washington, DC to serve as a mercenary force for their planned invasion and coup d'état on the island that houses approximately 100,000 residents.
Elaborate Preparation for Heinous Crimes
The investigation revealed that Weisenburg and Thomas undertook numerous concrete steps to advance their invasion scheme. Weisenburg enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy specifically to learn command-and-control protocols and traveled all the way to Thailand to receive sailing lessons, according to the indictment.
Meanwhile, Thomas took his preparation even further by enlisting in the US Air Force to acquire military skills necessary for the murderous takeover. Prosecutors noted that Thomas deliberately changed his initial station assignment from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Andrews Air Base in Maryland to position himself closer to potential homeless recruits in the Washington, DC area.
Both defendants went as far as learning Haitian Creole to facilitate their planned operations on the island, demonstrating the seriousness of their intentions.
Additional Child Exploitation Charges
In a related development that adds to the gravity of their crimes, both men face separate charges for persuading a minor to produce child pornography. Federal investigators confirmed that explicit material was discovered on their electronic devices during the course of the investigation.
The child pornography charges carry significant penalties, with convictions potentially resulting in up to 30 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
Gonave Island, the target of their alleged plot, is the largest island off Hispaniola and sits in Port-au-Prince Bay. Despite its scenic beaches and beautiful views, the island's population has struggled with widespread hunger according to the La Gonave Community & Child Association.
Weisenburg from Allen, Texas, and Thomas from Argyle, Texas, now face life imprisonment if convicted on the primary charges of conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country. The case continues to develop as federal prosecutors build their case against the two defendants.
