A third Texan man has pleaded guilty to targeting gay men via gay dating app Grindr, in order to assault them and rob their homes.

Chancler Encalade, 20, was arrested alongside three others earlier this year. The gang were charged in May on 18 counts. Namely, between January and February this year, they used Grindr to connect with gay men in Plano, Frisco, and Aubrey, Texas.

On four separate occasions the men went to the homes of their different victims and committed the offences.

They are charged with assaulting their victims, binding them with tape, and then robbing them of their possessions, including cars. They were also charged with possessing firearms.

During the incidents, the assailants made derogatory comments about the victim’s sexual orientation.

After being charged, Nigel Garrett, 21, and Cameron Ajiduah, 18, were the first of the four charged men to plead guilty to the crimes. A fourth man, Anthony Shelton, 19, is awaiting trial.

‘The Justice Department will not tolerate hate crimes against any individual’

In a press release from the Texas Department of Justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore said, ‘The Justice Department will not tolerate hate crimes against any individual, for any reason, including sexual orientation.

‘Hate crimes are violent crimes and they attack the fundamental principles of the United States. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute hate crimes.’

Encalade faces maximum life sentence and a $250,000 fine. The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Plano Police Department, and the Frisco Police Department.

GSN has approached Grindr for comment.

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