CHICAGO — A former Chicago church deacon was sentenced this week to eight years in state prison after admitting he robbed a man at gunpoint during a meeting arranged through Grindr, a case prosecutors described as a calculated abuse of trust by someone viewed as a spiritual leader.
Authorities said 31-year-old Erick Collins connected with the victim through Grindr and invited him to meet. When the man arrived, prosecutors said Collins pulled a handgun, threatened him, and stole cash and personal belongings before fleeing the scene. The victim later reported the incident to police, leading detectives to identify Collins as the suspect through digital communication records and the victim’s description.
Investigators noted that Collins had been serving as a deacon at a local church at the time of the robbery, a detail that sharply contrasted with the violent nature of the crime. Prosecutors said Collins used the false perception of safety — reinforced by his religious affiliation — to lure the victim into a vulnerable situation.
“This was a breach of trust in every sense,” a prosecutor said in court. “He presented himself as a man of faith while planning an armed robbery. The victim had no reason to expect danger, and that vulnerability was deliberately exploited.”
Collins eventually pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a firearm enhancement, a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence. The judge who handed down the eight-year term cited both the seriousness of the offense and Collins’s role in the church, calling it a “profound contradiction” and “a failure of character that endangered another person’s life.”
Members of the congregation where Collins once served expressed shock upon learning the details of the case. A church spokesperson said leaders were “deeply saddened” and emphasized that Collins’s actions did not reflect the values of the church or its community. The congregation has since offered support to parishioners who said they felt blindsided by the news.
The victim, whose identity is being withheld for privacy, did not appear in court but submitted a statement describing ongoing anxiety and fear resulting from the incident. He said the robbery left him questioning his safety when meeting new people, even in otherwise familiar or seemingly trustworthy environments.
Law enforcement officials said the case serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with online meetups and urged residents to take precautions, including meeting in public places or informing friends when arranging to meet someone for the first time.
Collins will serve his sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections and will be subject to supervised release after completing his prison term. Authorities said no additional suspects are believed to be involved.
The church has not announced whether Collins will face internal disciplinary action, but leaders indicated they are reviewing the matter and reinforcing policies intended to prevent misconduct among staff and volunteers.
The incident remains a point of concern for both law enforcement and community members, not only for its violent nature but for the way it intersected with faith, trust, and personal safety in the digital age.
