A U.S. Air Force airman enlisted specifically to gain combat skills for a shocking plot to invade a Haitian island, murder all men, and enslave women and children—exposing a disturbing intersection of military access and domestic extremism.
Military Infiltration for Criminal Enterprise
Tanner Christopher Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 2025 with the calculated purpose of acquiring military training and combat skills for a planned invasion of Gonave Island, Haiti.
Thomas transferred to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland by February 2025, positioning himself near Washington, D.C., to recruit homeless individuals as mercenaries for the operation. This systematic exploitation of military resources for criminal purposes constitutes a serious breach of trust and underscores vulnerabilities in oversight of military recruitment that demand immediate attention.
Detailed Planning for Mass Atrocity
The conspiracy began in August 2024 when Thomas and co-conspirator Gavin Rivers Weisenberg started developing their plan to seize control of Haiti’s largest offshore island.
The men learned Haitian Creole, researched logistics, and planned to acquire weapons for their operation. Their stated goal was to kill all male residents of the 87,000-person island and force women and children into sexual slavery. The deliberate nature of their preparation, including language study and tactical planning, demonstrates the serious intent behind this disturbing plot.
Exploitation of Vulnerable Populations
Both conspirators targeted homeless individuals in Washington D.C. for recruitment as mercenaries, viewing them as expendable assets for their operation. This predatory approach reveals their willingness to exploit society’s most vulnerable members while treating human lives as disposable tools. The plan represented multiple layers of evil: genocide against Haitian men, enslavement of women and children, and exploitation of homeless Americans. Such callous disregard for human dignity across multiple populations underscores the depravity of their intentions.
Swift Justice and Military Response
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, moved decisively to disrupt the plot before it could be carried out. Thomas was convicted in military court and sentenced to dishonorable discharge and three years’ confinement. Both men now face federal charges, including conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country, plus child pornography production charges. Their attorneys plan to enter not guilty pleas, but the evidence of detailed planning and explicit criminal intent appears overwhelming based on the comprehensive investigation.
This case demands a serious examination of military screening procedures and ongoing monitoring of personnel for extremist tendencies. The fact that someone could enlist with such malicious intent and progress through training raises critical questions about safeguarding our armed forces from infiltration by criminal elements seeking to exploit military resources for evil purposes.
Sources:
Task & Purpose – Airman indicted in plot to take over Haitian island, enslave population
ABC News – Federal prosecutors: 2 Texas men made plans for Haitian island takeover
Bluebonnet News – Two Texans accused of planning armed takeover of island in Haiti
KATV News – Texans indicted in plot to invade island, kill the men, use women children as sex slaves