A Dallas man has been sentenced to 23 years and four months behind bars for his role in a hate crime that targeted gay men for violent crimes. Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Jenkins was the last of four individuals to be sentenced for their role in violent hate crimes.

Jenkins was accused of being the ringleader behind the violent crime scheme that targeted gay men online. Officials explain that on or around December 6, 2017, Jenkins used the popular dating app, Grindr, to scope out his victims. On the app, which was primarily used by gay men, Jenkins would groom his victims before then luring them to his apartment.

According to prosecutors, Jenkins and his friends would create fake profiles on the dating app. They would pose as gay men and then sift through other profiles to find potential victims. Prosecutors explained that the purpose of creating the accounts was “to commit violent crimes against them, including kidnapping, assault, robbery, and carjacking.” Throughout early December, within the span of a week, Jenkins and his friends attacked at least nine men ranging from ages 19 to 57.

Prosecutors explained that once the men would agree to meet up with Jenkins, Jenkins and three of his friends would then proceed to commit violent acts against them. Prosecutors explain that the men would hold up their victims at gunpoint and then proceed to force them to drive around to ATMs where they would then withdraw cash from their accounts. Other victims were brutally beaten as the men hurled homophobic slurs at them.

Jenkins admitted guilt for his involvement in the crimes. In a statement released by the Justice Department, Jenkins admitted that he had “lured multiple victims to the apartment complex, pointed a handgun at them, took their personal property and assaulted them, causing at least one victim physical injury.” Jenkins also admitted to carjacking at least one victim. Along with admitting his guilt, Jenkins shared that at least one of the defendants tried to sexually assault one of the victims.

Following the sentencing, Jenkins’ lawyer Heath Hyde shared with the Washington Post that the defense was pleased with the sentence. Given the serious nature of the crimes, Jenkins was looking at a possible life sentence.

At his sentencing, Jenkins shared with the judge that he was sorry for his actions and that he doesn’t have hate for individuals in the gay community.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division shared of the sentencing, “This defendant targeted innocent victims for violent crimes simply because he believed they were gay.” Clarke adds, “This sentence affirms that bias-motivated crimes run contrary to our national values and underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting bias-motivated crimes, including crimes against the LGBTQI community. We will continue to pursue justice for victims of bias-motivated crimes, wherever they occur.”

In 2019, Jenkins’ co-conspirators also pled guilty to their roles in the hate crimes. Pablo Ceniceros-Deleon, Daryl Henry, and Michael Atkinson were sentenced in June respectively to 22 years, 20 years, and 11 years behind bars. At the time of their guilty pleas, the men ranged in ages 19 - 24.