Two Texas men have been charged in a disturbing conspiracy that prosecutors say involved planning an armed invasion of Gonâve Island in Haiti, killing its male population, and forcing women and children into sexual slavery. The federal indictment identifies the suspects as 21-year-old Gavin Rivers Weisenburg and 20-year-old Tanner Christopher Thomas.
According to investigators, the alleged plot unfolded over nearly a year, beginning in August 2024 and continuing into mid-2025. Prosecutors say the men purchased a sailboat, gathered weapons and ammunition, recruited individuals to help carry out the attack, and even studied Haitian Creole as part of preparations. Authorities also allege that Thomas sought military training by joining the U.S. Air Force with the intention of using the skills for the planned operation.
Court documents detail a plan to eliminate the island’s adult men, seize control of the territory, and enslave women and children under a forced hierarchy. Both men also face a separate charge related to the production of child pornography after one of the suspects allegedly coerced a minor into explicit conduct.
Their attorneys have stated that the men had no real intention of carrying out the attack and plan to plead not guilty. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the extensive preparations and recruitment efforts demonstrate otherwise.
If convicted, the conspiracy charge alone carries a potential life sentence. The case continues to draw national attention due to the severity of the allegations and the international implications of the planned violence.