Texas man sentenced to 15 years in jail for using Grindr to rob gay men
Three other men were charged for kidnapping, hate crimes and more alongside him
A Texas man has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for reportedly using Grindr to rob gay men at gunpoint.
On Wednesday (January 3), the Department of Justice charged Nigel Garrett and four other men with 18-count indictments that include charges for hate crimes, kidnappings and car-jackings.
The four men reportedly invaded four homes in Plano, Frisco and Aubrey, Texas between January 17 and February 7.
A press release issued by the Department of Justice revealed that Garrett admitted that he and three of the four men had used Grindr to arrange to meet a victim at his home.
They then restrained the victim before physically assaulting him.
The press release reads: “Upon entering the victim’s home, the defendants restrained the victim with tape. [They] physically assaulted the victim, and made derogatory statements to the victim for being gay.
“The defendants brandished a firearm during the home invasion. They stole the victim’s property, including his motor vehicle.”
The three other men have pleaded guilty to the charges and are awaiting sentencing. Reports suggest that Encalade faces maximum life sentence as well as a $250,000 fine.