Trendpills
Two men from North Texas have been indicted on federal charges for their alleged role in a bizarre and violent plot to invade a Haitian island. Bryan Paul Weisenburg, 55, and Lawrence Dean Thomas, 57, are accused of conspiring to recruit a mercenary force to overthrow the government of Île de la Tortue, an island off the northern coast of Haiti.
The indictment, unsealed in the Eastern District of Texas, outlines a chilling plan. Prosecutors allege the men intended to kill all adult males on the island and enslave the women and children for sexual exploitation and forced labor. Their ultimate goal was to establish their own sovereign nation, which they referred to as "Turtleland Trading Authority" in planning documents. The defendants allegedly sought to raise funds by promising investors portions of the island's land and assets once their takeover was complete.
To execute the plan, Weisenburg and Thomas allegedly tried to recruit between 50 and 100 armed individuals and acquire a significant arsenal. Their shopping list reportedly included automatic rifles, explosives, a boat, and an airplane. The plot was foiled when they attempted to purchase weapons from undercover federal agents, leading to their arrest. According to court documents, they created official-looking papers, including a "Declaration of Non-Aggression," to lend a veneer of legitimacy to their venture while planning extreme violence.
U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs announced the charges, which include conspiracy to commit an offense against a friendly nation, conspiracy to export firearms without a license, and conspiracy to possess unregistered firearms. The details of the indictment paint a picture of a calculated effort to establish a private state built on violence and slavery. If convicted of all charges, Weisenburg and Thomas could each face a sentence of up to life in federal prison. The case highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region, even as it details an extraordinary criminal enterprise originating within the United States.
