Indictment alleges months of recruiting, skill-building and logistics to reach Gonâve Island.
PLANO, Texas — A newly filed federal indictment sketches a months-long sequence in which two North Texas men allegedly trained, recruited and acquired skills for a plan to seize a Haitian island and commit mass violence, according to prosecutors in the Eastern District of Texas.
The charging document identifies the defendants as Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, of Argyle. Investigators say the men discussed buying a sailboat and weapons, studied Haitian Creole and tried to assemble a small force for an assault on Gonâve Island. The case is in early stages; both face a count of conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country and a separate count of producing child pornography. The FBI, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and a North Texas police department are leading the probe.
According to the indictment, planning began around August 2024. Messages and notes cited by investigators describe an effort to recruit an armed group, including people experiencing homelessness in the Washington, D.C., area, to serve as a mercenary unit. The men allegedly mapped a route by sea, looked for a boat and studied sailing to reach the Gulf of Gonâve. Prosecutors said Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as part of the plan to gain combat and leadership skills. Weisenburg allegedly pursued training aimed at operating in austere conditions. “This is an international murder and kidnapping scheme,” U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said in announcing the charges.
By early summer 2025, investigators say, the pair had drafted operational steps for landing on the island and consolidating control after a planned coup. The indictment alleges they intended to kill all adult males and enslave women and children. Prosecutors did not list a precise headcount for potential recruits, and court filings do not describe any firearms purchases completed before the case was brought. Authorities said the men are also charged with producing child pornography after agents recovered explicit material during the investigation. The case file does not reference any recognized political movement linked to the plan.
Gonâve Island lies off Haiti’s mainland and is home to many thousands of residents whose lives have been shaped by the country’s prolonged instability. While Haiti has seen outside plots and weapons trafficking cases over the years, U.S. authorities said this case stands out for its alleged intent to overthrow local control and inflict widescale harm. Records in previous prosecutions show that planning, even without a successful operation, can still trigger federal charges when it involves steps toward murder or kidnapping overseas.
Next steps include initial court appearances and arraignments in federal court. A judge will consider detention pending trial. Prosecutors said additional filings will detail digital evidence, training records and interviews. If convicted, the conspiracy count carries up to life in prison; the child pornography count carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years. Prosecutors said more details could be filed in coming days as discovery begins.
Residents in Allen and Argyle reacted with alarm as news of the indictment spread. A local official said the communities were “shocked by the allegations” and voiced support for the investigation. Advocates for Haitian communities in the U.S. called the allegations dehumanizing. “It is chilling to read what was allegedly planned,” one advocate said. Authorities reiterated that an indictment is not evidence and that the defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case remains open, with hearing dates expected to be set after initial appearances. Prosecutors said they will provide updates in court filings as the schedule is finalized.
Author note: Last updated November 21, 2025.