Federal authorities have claimed that two men from Texas conspired a violent takeover on Gonâve Island, the biggest island in Haiti, reportedly motivated by disturbing intentions.
As stated in a statement from the federal prosecutor’s office in Texas, a 21-year-old individual and a 20-year-old man are charged with planning to take control of the island by force, using homeless individuals from Washington DC, then killing all men and subjecting women and children to abuse.
It remains unclear why the men chose this location, with a population of an estimated thousands of residents. As part of their scheme, they gained Haitian Creole language skills and started enlisting people to aid the invasion.
A co-conspirator, the younger suspect, had joined the US air force specifically to develop military skills useful for the conspiracy.
Additionally, the men face charges of producing child pornography, which could result in prison sentences of decades behind bars if found guilty.
The primary allegation, federal conspiracy to commit violent acts in a another nation, carries a potential imprisonment for life upon conviction.
According to the formal charges, the defendants started devising the plan in August 2024 and proceeded until July of this year. Their intentions included acquiring a vessel, weapons and ammunition, and enrolling in specialized training schools.
Weisenburg was taken into custody in July, after allegedly traveling to Thailand to learn sailing.
The other individual had relocated his military assignment to a nearby state to assist in recruiting homeless people from the capital area.
This investigation was conducted together by the federal bureau, the military investigative unit, and local police.
An earlier assessment highlighted that Gonâve Island is without sufficient legal infrastructure, resulting in concerns from inhabitants about lawlessness. The area is also considered isolated from mainland Haiti.
