Federal authorities have charged two young men from North Texas in an alarming plot that allegedly involved invading a Haitian island, murdering its male population, and enslaving the women and children for sexual exploitation. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs, who described the case as one of the most disturbing conspiracies uncovered in recent years.
According to a federal indictment, twenty one year old Gavin Rivers Weisenburg of Allen and twenty year old Tanner Christopher Thomas of Argyle are accused of planning a violent operation targeting the Island of Gonave, part of the Republic of Haiti. A grand jury returned a two count indictment charging both men with conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country and with production of child pornography.
Court records state that between August 2024 and July 2025, Weisenburg and Thomas conspired to recruit and lead an armed expeditionary force to carry out their plan. Prosecutors say their goal was to live out violent sexual fantasies by seizing control of the island. Their plan allegedly included purchasing a sailboat, acquiring firearms and ammunition and recruiting individuals from the homeless population in the Washington, D.C. area to serve as a makeshift mercenary force.
Investigators say the men intended to murder all men living on Gonave and then enslave the island’s women and children. Evidence presented in court indicates that both suspects took concrete steps to support the plot. They allegedly made logistical plans, began learning Haitian Creole and attempted to recruit others to join the operation. They also researched and enrolled in programs to learn skills they believed would help prepare them for the invasion. Thomas reportedly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force specifically to gain military training relevant to their plan.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, both men are accused of producing child pornography in connection with the case.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, Weisenburg and Thomas each face a potential sentence of life in federal prison. On the child pornography charge, they face a mandatory minimum of fifteen years and up to thirty years.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Celina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker is prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasize that a federal indictment is only an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
De Mesye Nò Texas Akize nan yon Komplo pou Envayi yon Zile ann Ayiti epi Mete Fanm ak Timoun esklav seksyèl
Otorite federal yo akize de jèn gason nan Nò Texas nan yon komplo ki fè frison, kote yo te planifye pou envayi yon zile ann Ayiti, touye tout gason ki sou zile a, epi esklavize fanm ak timoun pou satisfè rèv seksyèl yo. Akizasyon yo te anonse pa Avoka Federal Jay R. Combs, ki dekri dosye a kòm youn nan pi kè sote yo dekouvri nan dènye ane yo.
Dapre yon akizasyon federal, Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21 an, ki soti Allen, ak Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20 an, ki soti Argyle, akize kòm moun ki te planifye yon operasyon vyolan kont Zile Lagonav, ki fè pati Repiblik Ayiti. Yon gran jiri te retounen yon akizasyon de konplo pou touye, sakrifye oswa kidnape nan yon peyi etranje, ansanm ak pwodiksyon pònnografi timoun.
Dokiman tribinal yo fè konnen ant mwa Out 2024 ak Jiyè 2025, Weisenburg ak Thomas te fè konplo pou rekrite epi dirije yon fòs ekspedisyon ame pou reyalize plan yo. Pwokirè yo di objektif yo se te viv rèv seksyèl vyolan an kont popilasyon zile a. Yo te planifye pou achte yon bato, achte zam ak minisyon epi rekrite moun nan popilasyon san kay Washington, D.C. pou sèvi kòm yon gwoup sòlda pou yon envazyon yo te planifye.
Ankèt la montre ke yo te gen entansyon touye tout gason ki sou Lagonav epi sèvi ak fanm ak timoun yo kòm esklav seksyèl. Prèv yo montre ke yo te deja kòmanse fè plan lojistik, aprann lang kreyòl ayisyen epi eseye rekrite lòt moun pou rantre nan operasyon an. Yo te menm enskri nan pwogram pou aprann konpetans yo te panse ki ta ede yo nan envazyon an. Thomas menm ta di li te antre nan U.S. Air Force pou jwenn fòmasyon militè pou ede nan plan yo.
Anplis konplo a, de mesye yo akize tou pou pwodiksyon pònnografi timoun.
Si yo jwenn yo koupab nan konplo pou komèt touye moun nan yon peyi etranje, yo chak riske resevwa yon kondanasyon ki ka dire pou tout lavi nan prizon federal. Sou akizasyon pònnografi timoun nan, yo riske yon minimòm 15 lane prizon ak yon maksimòm 30 lane.
Dapre otorite yo, FBI, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations ak Polis Celina ap mennen ankèt la. Asistan Avoka Federal Ryan Locker ap pouswiv dosye a.
Otorite yo raple piblik la ke yon akizasyon federal se sèlman yon akizasyon. Tout moun ki akize yo konsidere kòm inosan jiskaske yo jwenn yo koupab nan tribinal, san okenn dout rezonab.
