In a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas on November 20, 2025, two North Texas men, 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 in connection with a conspiracy to invade Gonâve Island (population 87,000), U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced.

According to information presented in court, between August 2024 and July 2025, Weisenburg and Thomas allegedly conspired to recruit and lead a commando unit on Gonâve Island, part of Haiti, to carry out their rape fantasies. Weisenburg and Thomas planned to purchase a sailboat, firearms, and ammunition, and then recruit homeless people from the Washington, D.C., area to form a mercenary force. During their planned invasion of Gonâve Island, Weisenburg and Thomas intended to murder all the men on the island in order to enslave the women and children for sexual purposes.

Weisenburg and Thomas took numerous concrete steps to carry out their invasion plan, including developing operational and logistical plans, learning Haitian Creole, recruiting accomplices, and enrolling in training courses to acquire the necessary skills. Thomas even enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to gain military skills useful for the invasion. Weisenburg traveled to Thailand last February to take a sailing course.

In addition, Weisenburg and Thomas are also charged with producing child pornography, a related charge included in the indictment.

If convicted of federal conspiracy to commit murder abroad, Weisenburg and Thomas face life imprisonment. If convicted of producing child pornography, they both face a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison.

This case is the subject of a joint investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Celina Police Department. The prosecution is being led by Assistant District Attorney Ryan Locker.

The District Attorney's Office clarifies in its statement that an indictment by a grand jury does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court.

HL/ HaitiLibre