-Avier Wanjou-Brass-
Cousins!
We can’t stress enough how important it is for you all to be careful when tapping into these dating apps nowadays, because some people are playing an unfair and dangerous game!
Recently, 22-year-old, Derrick Patterson, was arrested and charged with a federal complaint for allegedly targeting and robbed 21 gay men he met on the dating app Grindr.
According to The Advocate, between November 2019 and March 2022, “Prosecutors said that Patterson would allegedly meet his victims in their homes or hotels, then use weapons, such as knives or tasers, to obtain money or their cell phones.
Official court documents indicate that Patterson physically assaulted victims on numerous occasions – like back in October 2020 robbery when he allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest. Despite his injuries, the victim survived and was able to identify Patterson in a lineup.”
In one incident, prosecutors accused Patterson of “stealing a victim’s phone to try and access Apple Pay while engaging in consensual sexual activity. After the victim demanded his phone back, Patterson threatened him with a taser.”
Prosecutors claimed, “Patterson took his victims’ wallets, withdrew money from their bank accounts, and used credit cards for his benefit.”
The FBI was able to locate Patterson through a search warrant from his phone number at two hotels located along Century Boulevard. Similar robberies have taken place the same day.
Paterson could face a maximum of 20 years.