Homophobic Sting Operations Lead to Eight-Year Sentence

Ilies B. Sentenced to Eight Years for Targeting Gay Men in Pre-Meditated Robberies

Ilies B., 28, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence by the Essonne court of appeal for luring four gay men to his mother’s apartment building in December 2022, where he ambushed and robbed them in the basement. This second trial concluded with the defendant finally acknowledging the homophobic nature of his actions—an aspect he had previously denied. Though originally facing a potential life sentence, the appeal resulted in a five-year reduction compared to the initial conviction. Silent and expressionless at the verdict, the only moment that softened the courtroom came when his ailing mother testified about the emotional toll the case has taken on her.

A Targeted and Aggressive Modus Operandi Reflecting Broader Trends

The method used by Ilies B. highlights a disturbing pattern of deliberate attacks against members of the LGBTQ+ community. He contacted his victims through dating platforms, including Coco (now court-ordered to shut down) and plansm.com. Once the men arrived, he led them into the building’s cellar where he threatened them with knives—either an Opinel or a butcher’s cleaver. Victims were ordered to lie underneath a chair while he made his getaway. In an especially theatrical instance, he scraped his blade along a pipe to heighten the sense of danger, “like in the movies,” he later admitted.

A Belated Admission of Homophobic Motive

During his first trial in September 2024, Ilies B. confessed to the robberies but denied using weapons and rejected any homophobic motivation—even as explicit slurs like “Drop dead, faggot” were cited in court. He claimed that targeting gay men was purely a matter of logistics, believing they would be easier to lure. The court still applied aggravating factors, including weapon use and sexual orientation-based discrimination. For the victims, the hearing felt incomplete. Though Ilies filed for appeal in hopes of a lighter sentence, the second trial aimed to draw a deeper acknowledgment of guilt.

Shift in Narrative During the Appeal Trial

After spending nearly three years in custody, Ilies began his appeal trial still in denial about his homophobic intent. Under pressure, including encouragement from his sister to come clean, he eventually admitted to the slurs and expressed remorse. “I’m deeply sorry… I was just repeating what I heard in the neighborhood,” he said. Despite these efforts, the presiding judge, Michaël Humbert, expressed doubts, urging the defendant to confront his “blind spots”—willful ignorance that prevents true understanding of the damage caused.

Long-Lasting Trauma for the Victims

The emotional and physical scars left by these attacks continue to affect the victims years later. Maxime, a 36-year-old civil servant, renounced his sexual life entirely. Dylan, 31, credited his family’s support with saving his life. Romain, 46, lost his ability to play the piano after a thumb injury caused by the knife. Florent, 29, a photographer, described living with overwhelming guilt and a pervasive sense of distrust. All four men testified to the deeply personal and enduring nature of the trauma, exacerbated by the vulnerability of the dating context.

A Calculated Scheme Plagued by Harmful Stereotypes

Ilies B. insisted he was not attracted to men, claiming he used photos from Google to set up his fake profiles. He said he was following a “tip” that led him to believe gay men were easier targets. According to his own account, he interacted with over 80 men on plansm.com, stealing only modest sums. He also believed, incorrectly, that gay victims would be less likely to go to the authorities. These assumptions, the court argued, clearly demonstrated discriminatory intent. Notably, the investigation moved quickly due to Ilies’s failure to anonymize his identity—his face and even the apartment’s door code were known to the victims.

This Case Exposes a Wider Issue of Targeted Violence

Plaintiffs’ attorneys emphasized that this wasn’t just a robbery—it was an attack on what made the victims different. “It was an assault on identity,” said attorney Jean-Baptiste Boué-Diacquenod. While the legal team acknowledged that the defendant eventually admitted to the motive, doubts lingered over his sincerity. The prosecution, led by Isabelle Poinso, framed the case within a troubling societal context, noting that reports of homophobic attacks occur weekly. She stressed the importance of societal and legal recognition for victims of such abuses.

A Verdict That Sends a Clear Message

In delivering its decision, the court pointed to the particularly cruel nature of this type of attack—taking place in intimate moments when individuals are at their most vulnerable. “Seeking a connection is an act of emotional exposure,” Judge Humbert remarked. The violent breach of this space, he said, amplifies the trauma. This sentencing delivers a strong message: courts are finally recognizing the real weight of homophobic traps. Decades after the infamous Manhattan case, the legal lens through which such crimes are viewed has fundamentally evolved.

Latest LGBTQ News