We’ve been following this story for over a year and it seems that the criminals behind these horrible hate crimes will be behind bars for a very long time. Earlier this year we reported that Nigel Garrett and Chancler Encalade pleaded guilty to posing as gay men on the hook up app Grindr in order to invade, assault, rob gay men around Frisco, Plano, and Aubrey, Texas last year.
But Garrett and Encalade were only two in a group of four men who were responsible for these hate crimes. Anthony Shelton, 20, and Cameron Ajiduah, 19, were also part of the crimes against gay men.
Earlier this week, Shelton and Ajiduah were finally sentenced, according to the official press release by the Department of Justice.
Shelton was sentenced to 20 years in prison while Ajiduah was sentenced to 15 years. Both men admitted that as a group they targeted gay men and arranged to meet with them.
The press release states:
Upon entering the victim’s home, the defendants restrained the victim with tape, physically assaulted him, and made derogatory statements about the victim’s sexual orientation. The defendants brandished a firearm during the home invasion, and they stole the victim’s property, including his motor vehicle.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division said:
The Department of Justice will not tolerate any act of violence targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, religion, disability, or national origin. The Department will continue to investigate and prosecute hate crimes cases.
h/t: official press release by the Department of Justice
