Texas Men Plotted To Seize Haitian Island, Make Sex Slaves Of Women & Children

Federal prosecutors have indicted two North Texas men for plotting an armed takeover of Haiti’s Gonave Island. Gavin Weisenburg, 21, of Allen and Tanner Thomas, 20, of Argyle allegedly planned to murder all men on the island and enslave women and children as “sex slaves,” according to Thursday’s indictment. The Justice Department says the conspiracy began in August 2024, with both men taking Haitian Creole lessons and researching weapons. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 2025 to gain military training for the coup, while Weisenburg enrolled in fire academy training. They planned to recruit homeless people from Washington, D.C., and transport weapons by sailboat. Both face conspiracy charges that could bring life sentences, plus child pornography charges carrying up to 30 years. Gonave Island, located 30 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, has about 87,000 residents. (Story URL)