DALLAS — Federal prosecutors say two Texas men plotted to take over an island in Haiti, one of whom went so far as to join the U.S. military to receive attack training with the goal of killing all the men and using the women and children for sex.
Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, both Dallas natives, were charged Thursday with conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas. They were also charged with producing child pornography for enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit acts.
Lawyers for both men said Friday they would plead not guilty.
“They never tried to do anything like this,” said John Helms, Thomas' lawyer.
The indictment, filed in federal court in Texas, accuses the men of planning to recruit homeless people to take part in a coup in Haiti, buy a sailboat and seize power on the island of Gonave, home to about 87,000 residents. It covers an area of ​​approximately 290 square miles (751 square kilometers) and is the largest island surrounding Hispaniola.
Helms said that while he has not yet reviewed the government's evidence, he believes prosecutors “will have a tough time” trying to prove that Weisenburg and Thomas actually intended to carry out such a conspiracy.
David Finn, Weisenburg's lawyer, said he encourages everyone to “take advantage of the breaks” and reserve judgment. He said people told him it was “the craziest thing” they had ever heard, and he said, “Yes, it is.”
According to the indictment, the two men worked on the plot from August 2024 to July, and the preparation included research on weapons and ammunition and plans to purchase military-style rifles. Prosecutors also say both men tried to learn Haitian Creole.
Weisenburg allegedly enrolled in a fire academy outside Dallas to receive training that could be useful in an attack, but was unable to leave the school. He then allegedly went to Thailand and planned to learn how to sail, but never enrolled in lessons due to the cost.
According to the indictment, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January and told Weisenburg on social media that he had joined the military to continue a planned attack. While serving in the Air Force, Thomas changed assignments to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to help recruit homeless people in Washington, D.C., the indictment says.
Investigating agencies included the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for information about Thomas' service Friday.
The men face up to 30 years in prison if convicted on the child pornography charge and up to life in prison if convicted on the conspiracy charge.
