TEXAS: Two Men Charged With Federal Hate Crimes After Using Grindr To Lure, Beat, And Rob Gay Men

The Dallas Morning News reports:

Two men have been charged with federal hate crimes for using the Grindr app to lure at least nine gay men to a vacant Dallas apartment where they allegedly beat, robbed, threatened and humiliated them, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday. Daniel Jenkins, 19, and Michael Atkinson, 24, committed the armed assaults during the first two weeks of December 2017, according to the 15-count indictment.

The defendants remain in custody. Jenkins and Atkinson are charged with hate crimes, kidnapping, carjacking, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 57. Most were under 30. The alleged assaults and robberies at gunpoint took place in the Solana Ridge apartment complex east of Dallas and south of Interstate 30, the indictment said.