Stevenson Charles is 21 and faces at least 17 violent charges in crimes that authorities say include auto theft, kidnapping and attempted murder. His victims were found on popular gay community app Grindr.
A series of kidnappings and robberies targeting homosexuals.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the subject used the dating app grindr, popular among the gay community. It was there that he found his victims.
In the first case, the defendant invited a man he had met online to his Miami home for sex, but when the victim arrived Charles pointed a gun at him. He then instructed the victim to go to two ATMs, withdraw over $1,000 and give it to them.
Frank Fernández, former Miami and Hollywood Police Department Chief, says:
“The most important thing given that we have these platforms on the computer is to do it in public.”
On another occasion, Charles met another man and arranged to meet him at Dania Beach for sex. Once there, Charles pointed a gun at the man and told him he hated gay people and thought they should be punished, prosecutors said.
After stealing money and mobile phones from the victim and his partner, he asked the victim to be alone with him and as they approached a secluded area, Charles shot several times the man, once in the head. Despite his injuries, the victim was able to call 911 and survived.
Charles admitted to looking for at least 5 victims. According to Dr. Christina Balinotti, this type of behavior is more common than you might think.
“It’s very common in these applications that the optimal opportunity arises,” says Balinotti.
The suspect was later found in Georgia and pleaded guilty to 17 separate counts related to the crime spree that lasted from October 23 to November 6, 2022.
“Defensive hate crime…and then the smallest amount is seen as a mission, the mission to obliterate or punish a certain social group,” Balinotti explains.
An investigation by a cybersecurity firm revealed that:
• 30% of Americans who have used dating apps suspect fraudulent behavior and 17% have experienced it.
• 30% of users over the past five years have encountered someone who asks them for money.
• 50% have been victims of a “catfish” or fake profile, more than double the 24% of five years ago.
“If you are going to meet someone through a computer, through social media, the best thing to do is to do it during the day, bring someone who will accompany you to a meeting and have a strategy if that meeting does not happen. not suit you,” he told Fernandez.
The district judge will sentence Charles on April 24. The accused could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.