Texas men indicted in Haiti island coup plot
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Texas indicted Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, for conspiring to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country in an alleged plot to seize Haiti’s Gonâve Island and kill the men while exploiting women and children. The indictment, filed Nov. 20, 2025, also charges production of child pornography, and alleges Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to gain training and moved to Joint Base Andrews to recruit homeless people, while both researched weapons, learned Haitian Creole, and planned to buy a sailboat for the attack.
U.S. Justice Department
Haiti
📌 Key Facts
- Defendants: Gavin Rivers Weisenburg (21) and Tanner Christopher Thomas (20), from the Dallas area.
- Charges: Conspiracy to murder/maim/kidnap in a foreign country; production of child pornography.
- Timeline: Alleged planning from August 2024 through July 2025 targeting Gonâve Island (Haiti).
- Alleged actions: Weapons research, Creole study, plan to buy a sailboat; Weisenburg attempted fire academy training and traveled to Thailand; Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January and transferred to Joint Base Andrews.
- Investigators: U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDTX); U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations involved.
- Potential penalties: Up to life in prison on the conspiracy charge; up to 30 years on the child pornography charge.
- Defense stance: Attorneys say the men will plead not guilty.