Man Finds Victim On Grindr, Steals Date's Car At Gunpoint: Prince George's Co. Prosecutor

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 years prison, with all but 20 suspended, after he pleaded guilty to an armed carjacking.

On Aug. 10, 2020, Wayne Robinson met a man he connected with on the dating app Grindr at the Belcrest Plaza Apartments. Robinson told the man to drive to the Adelphi Manor Recreation Center where the two planned to have sexual relations. When the victim climbed into the backseat, Robinson pulled out a gun and told the victim to get out. Robinson then drove off in the vehicle, according to the Prince George's County Police Department.

The victim ran to a nearby residence for help and reported the incident to police. Officers found the vehicle with Robinson driving it and began chasing the vehicle. Robinson jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. Police found him several hours later.

“This is a significant sentence and shows that we are committed to holding individuals who commit carjackings or any other type of violent crime accountable,” said State’s Attorney Braveboy. “Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in carjackings over the past several years and we want to make it clear that we won’t tolerate crime in our county. It’s important that residents feel safe.”

Part of Robinson’s sentence includes five years of supervised probation upon his release. State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said she will be advocating for the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations Act. The measure will be a tool to help her office more effectively prosecute carjackings, she said.

“Specifically, we have noticed that there has been an increase in carjackings and oftentimes these carjackings are part of a larger organized crime effort,” she said. “We want to be able to go after every player involved in those carjackings. We believe that a strong organized crime statute is important for the state of Maryland.”