Dallas-area man sentenced for violently targeting gay men

Nigel Garrett, 21, was sentenced to 15 years of prison for assaulting and robbing gay men. Nigel Garrett, 21, was sentenced to 15 years of prison for assaulting and robbing gay men. Photo: Fannin County Jail Photo: Fannin County Jail Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Dallas-area man sentenced for violently targeting gay men 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

A Frisco man learned his fate Wednesday, almost four months after he pleaded guilty to assaulting and robbing men because they were gay, officials said.

Nigel Garrett, 21, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

According to the plea deal, Garrett admitted to targeting gay men through the dating app Grindr.

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Garrett, along with three other conspirators, faced charges of hate crimes, kidnappings, carjackings and the use of firearms to commit violent crimes. The indictment also charged them with conspiring to cause bodily injury because of the victim's sexual orientation.

According to the press release, the four defendants would use the app to arrange meet-ups with gay men. When they'd enter the victims' homes, they would tie them up, assault them, rob them and make derogatory statements about their sexual orientation, authorities said.

The four defendants were responsible for four home invasions in Plano, Frisco and Aubrey, the release says.

"Violence, in any form, is an affront to the American principles of freedom and safety that our communities are entitled to," said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. "The Department of Justice has made prosecution of violent crime a priority. The Eastern District of Texas, in prosecuting this case and others like it, intends to demonstrate that this priority is something more than just a slogan."

The three other suspects, Anthony Shelton, Chancler Encalade and Cameron Ajiduah, are still awaiting sentencing, according to the release.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA