Two Texans accused of planning armed takeover of island in Haiti

Federal authorities have charged two North Texas men in an alleged plot to invade a Haitian island, kill its male residents, and enslave women and children, according to U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas.

Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, of Argyle, were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas on charges of conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country and production of child pornography.

Information presented in court indicates that between August 2024 and July 2025, Weisenburg and Thomas are alleged to have conspired to recruit and lead an unlawful expeditionary force to the Island of Gonave, which is part of the Republic of Haiti, for the purpose of carrying out their rape fantasies.  Weisenburg and Thomas planned to purchase a sailboat, firearms, and ammunition, then recruit members of the District of Columbia-area homeless population to serve as a mercenary force as they invaded Gonave Island and staged a coup d’etat.  Weisenburg and Thomas intended to murder all of the men on the island so that they could then turn all of the women and children into their sex slaves.

Weisenburg and Thomas undertook numerous overt acts in furtherance of their invasion plan, including making operational and logistical plans, learning Haitian Creole language, recruiting others to join the invasion plan, and researching and enrolling in schools to acquire skills relevant to the invasion plan.  Thomas even enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to acquire military skills relevant to the invasion plan.

Weisenburg and Thomas are also charged with production of child pornography in a related count in the indictment.

If convicted of the federal conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, Weisenburg and Thomas face up to life in federal prison. If convicted of the federal production of child pornography charges, both face at least 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Salina Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.