TEXAS
A federal grand jury indicted four men for assaulting and stealing money during the home invasions of gay men who they met on Grindr, a social media dating site, officials announced Wednesday.
The men — Anthony Shelton, 19; Nigel Garrett, 21; Chancler Encalade, 20; and Cameron Ajiduah, 18 — were charged with conspiring to cause bodily injury to persons because of the sexual orientation of those persons, officials said.
According to the indictment, from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 2017, the defendants committed home invasions in Plano, Frisco, and Aubrey, Texas.
For each of the four home invasions, the defendants used Grindr, a social media dating platform for gay men, to falsely identify as a gay man and arrange to meet the victim at the victim’s home.
Upon entering the victim’s home, the defendants assaulted the victim, restrained the victim with tape, and made derogatory statements about the victim being gay.
The defendants possessed a firearm during each home invasion, and they stole the victim’s property, including his motor vehicle.
If convicted of these crimes, the defendants face up to life in prison.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.