Federal Charges Filed Against Two Texas Men in Alleged Haitian Island Plot

Federal Charges Filed Against Two Texas Men in Alleged Haitian Island Plot

Two individuals from North Texas have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to conduct an armed coup on the Haitian island of Gonave. Gavin Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Thomas, 20, of Argyle, were named in an indictment filed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The indictment outlines a plan by Weisenburg, Thomas, and other alleged co-conspirators to murder all men on Gonave Island, take control of the territory, and enslave the women and children, described in the indictment as "sex slaves." Prosecutors state that the co-conspirators conducted research, reconnaissance, recruitment, planning, and sought training to execute this plan. The stated goal of the conspiracy was to achieve military control of the island by eliminating the male population and capturing the female population.

Both men face charges of:

• Conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country
• One count of producing child pornography

If convicted on the conspiracy charge, the individuals could face a life sentence. The child pornography charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

David Finn, attorney for Gavin Weisenburg, stated on Sunday that his client will plead not guilty. Finn remarked that while some factual basis may exist in the government's press release, it could also be misleading. John Helms, attorney for Tanner Thomas, also indicated on Sunday that his client will plead not guilty and that his team plans a vigorous defense.

Federal prosecutors allege several actions taken by the men in preparation for the alleged coup:

• Military Enlistment: Thomas allegedly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 2025 to acquire military training deemed useful for the planned armed attack.
• Fire Academy Enrollment: Weisenburg reportedly enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy in Rockwall, Texas, in August 2024 for coup-related training, but subsequently failed out of the program after approximately six months.
• Recruitment Efforts: The men allegedly planned to recruit homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., to assist in overthrowing Haiti's government on Gonave. To facilitate this, Thomas reportedly changed his basic training assignment from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland in March.
• Planning and Research: Prosecutors state that Weisenburg and Thomas initiated planning for the alleged attack in August 2024, communicating via social media. They also engaged in Haitian Creole language training and researched firearms and ammunition, including military-type rifles.
• Logistics: The plan allegedly involved transporting firearms, ammunition, and explosives by sailboat. Weisenburg is reported to have traveled to Thailand to enroll in sailing school, preparing for the purchase of a sailboat and the voyage to Haiti.

Gonave Island is situated approximately 30 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has an estimated population of 87,000 residents.