U.S. Airman Charged in Violent Plot to Seize Haitian Island

A U.S. Air Force airman was indicted on November 20 for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government of a Haitian island and enslave its inhabitants. The indictment against Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, and Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, outlines a disturbing plan to execute a violent coup on the Island of Gonave, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, both men face multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country, as well as production of child pornography. The indictment emphasizes that they aimed to unlawfully conduct a coup d’état on Gonave, a sovereign territory with a population of about 87,000.

The indictment details a timeline from August 2024 to July 2025 during which Thomas and Weisenburg allegedly conducted research, reconnaissance, and recruitment efforts in preparation for their planned takeover. They reportedly intended to kill all the men on the island, subsequently targeting women and children for sexual exploitation.

Recruitment and Planning Efforts

Court documents reveal that both men sought to enhance their skills for the invasion. Thomas enlisted in the Air Force in January 2025, while Weisenburg enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy in August 2024. Weisenburg, however, was dismissed from the academy in February 2025 after failing to meet the program’s requirements.

In March 2025, Thomas transferred his assignment from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Andrews Air Base in Maryland. This move was strategic, as it brought him closer to Washington, D.C., where he aimed to recruit individuals from the local unhoused population for their planned expeditionary force. The indictment suggests that they attempted to recruit both online and in person between August 2024 and May 2025.

The Air Education and Training Command confirmed Thomas’s assignment to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. A spokesperson noted that Thomas had previously been convicted in a court martial for several violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, resulting in a dishonorable discharge and a three-year confinement sentence.

Legal Consequences and Ongoing Investigations

The indictment does not clarify the total number of co-conspirators involved in the plot, but it does state their intention to travel to Gonave by sailboat to execute their plan. Both men now face severe consequences, with potential sentences of life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country. Additionally, if convicted of production of child pornography, they could face federal prison sentences ranging from 15 to 30 years.

The investigation is currently being led by the FBI, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Celina Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker. According to reports, both Thomas and Weisenburg plan to enter not guilty pleas.

This alarming case underscores the seriousness of the charges and the commitment of U.S. authorities to prevent such violent conspiracies from being realized.