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Two men from North Texas have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to a bizarre and violent plot to overthrow the government of La Gonâve, an island off the coast of Haiti. Bryan Paul Weisenburg, 43, of Fort Worth, and Christopher John Thomas, 47, of Denison, are accused of conspiring to invade the island, murder its adult male population, and enslave the remaining women and children to build a new, sovereign nation.
The unsealed indictment alleges that the men planned to establish a state called the "Principality of the Island of La Gonâve," which they envisioned as a tax-free haven for commerce. To achieve this, Weisenburg and Thomas allegedly drafted a “Declaration of Sovereignty” and began acquiring a cache of weapons, including rifles, pistols, tactical gear, and ammunition. Details from the federal indictment show they also tried to recruit at least five other individuals to serve as their military force for the invasion.
According to prosecutors, the plan involved chartering a boat from the Texas coast to transport their team and equipment to Haiti. The charges against the North Texas men include conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act, a law prohibiting U.S. citizens from waging war against a nation at peace with the United States. They also face charges of conspiracy to possess and export firearms in furtherance of a felony. The operation was disrupted before it could be launched, following an investigation led by the FBI.
Prosecutors describe the plot as a detailed effort that began around September 2023. The men allegedly created documents outlining their new government and plans for a post-invasion economy built on forced labor. If convicted, both Weisenburg and Thomas face significant prison time. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, stated that her office is committed to prosecuting anyone who plots to harm foreign nations from within the United States. The case highlights the federal government's enforcement of neutrality laws against private citizens attempting to conduct their own military campaigns.
